Can Asbestos Lead to Lung Cancer?

Asbestos is the fibrous mineral that is found in ore mines or rock mines. They are cluster of fibrous minerals which can be breathed into the lungs, they here stay for decades. These could be found in numerous parts of world and have magnesium, silicon and other harmful elements. The common one is used for industrial purposes called chrysolite also known as the white asbestos. They have curly fibers. Some of the other asbestos have straight needle like fibers. They are the amosite, actinolite, crocidolite, anthophyllite and tremolite. Because the fibers are heat resistant they may excellent insulating material.

Factories schools, ships, roofing shingles, homes, ceiling floor and tiles and numerous products make use of asbestos. Basically it is used a building material and long term exposure to it can lead to cancer. It can lead to irritation in nose and throat in short term, while the long term effects can be deadly and chronic. It should be noted that any kind of asbestos is capable in causing cancer. The condition is termed as asbestosis.

People mainly get exposed to it by the air they breathe with the fibers present in it. This can happen while mining or asbestos processing or even while installing asbestos sheets. The asbestos fibers get mixed with air and can enter the body. Contamination of liquids like water being contaminated in asbestos pipes can also case cancer. Occupational hazards may affect the workers working in asbestos filled environment. The worst part is that even the family members get affected as they carry the fibers in their clothing and which is inhaled by them too. The two common kinds of cancer that is caused due to inhalation of asbestos are lung cancer and mesothelimia. It can also cause cancer of throat, bowel, stomach and esophagus. Diagnosis in preliminary stages is not easy; it swiftly spreads and cannot be cured.