If you are in the construction business or employed by an industry that uses
products containing asbestos, you may wonder “Are asbestos fibers visible to the
eye”? Generally asbestos fibers are too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Asbestos becomes dangerous when it has broken down into small fibers and is
inhaled. It is nearly impossible to detect the presence of asbestos without
taking the material to a lab for testing. A lab technician will put the material
under a microscope to search for asbestos fibers. Asbestos does not cause an
immediate reaction. It will not cause you to cough, sneeze, or your eyes to
water. You cannot see, smell, or taste asbestos. If you skin becomes
contaminated with asbestos it will not burn or itch.
Asbestos related diseases have a very long latency period. This is the time
frame from when you are first exposed to asbestos until you become ill. Most
persons do not become ill for at least ten years after exposure and some not
until over forty years later. Asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma are all
asbestos related diseases. Asbestosis occurs when asbestos fibers enter the
lungs. The body will naturally produce an acid to combat the fibers. However,
this acid can cause scarring in the tissue of the lungs and in advanced stages
breathing becomes more difficult and painful. Asbestosis was first documented in
shipyard workers. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer. If a person smokes and is
exposed to asbestos, they have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that has only been linked to asbestos exposure.
It is a cancer of the cells that line the peritoneum (area surrounding the
abdominal organs) and the pleura (area outside of the lungs and inside of the
ribs).
There is a lot of debate and controversy surrounding which types of asbestos is
harmful. Some types of asbestos are thought to be more dangerous than others but
all types of asbestos exposure should be avoided. Actinolite, amosite,
anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile (white asbestos), and tremolite are all
types of asbestos. Chrysotile is the type of asbestos most commonly used in
manufacturing products.
Asbestos fibers are not visible to the eye. If you feel you may have been
exposed to asbestos, the most common method for testing is a chest x-ray. The
x-ray will not show the asbestos fibers but it can spot early signs of lung
disease. There is no known cure for asbestos related diseases.
