What is Asbestosis?

It is well known that asbestos is dangerous to our health if it should be disturbed, and can cause a person to suffer with terrible illnesses later in life. One of the main concerns from working with asbestos is suffering from asbestosis. Asbestosis is a long term chronic lung disease, caused by extended periods of exposure to asbestos.

Breathing in the fibres of asbestos may scar the lungs, which can cause symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue and a cough that is persistent.

Asbestosis is only the beginning of a long list of possible illnesses that a person can suffer from. Someone who suffers with asbestosis is unfortunately also at a greater risk of developing other lung related illnesses, which are likely to cause death – more so than asbestosis itself.

These additional illnesses include:

Pleural Disease

This is where the membrane, covering the lungs becomes thicker, which can make the chest discomfort and breathlessness more severe.

Mesothelioma

This is a form of cancer, affecting the membrane of the lungs, heart and gut. Find out more about the stages of mesothelioma.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and also one of the most serious. It’s caused by the growth of abnormal cells, in either one or both lungs.

Treating asbestosis

Unfortunately there is no cure for asbestosis once developed, as it is impossible to reverse the damage done to the lungs. Once diagnosed, should the person smoke, it is strongly advised that they stop. Smoking severely increases the symptoms, especially that of breathlessness, causing the person to suffer more. Smoking already increases the likelihood of a person developing lung cancer, but this risk increases greatly when paired with asbestosis.

Sufferers will also be more prone to infections of the lungs, so it is recommended to get vaccinated against the flu each year and to have the pneumococcal vaccination. This will help protect against bacteria that causes serious lung conditions, for example pneumonia. Most people only need this vaccination once, but should their health deteriorate then booster shots may be required.

Oxygen therapy is an option should it be deemed necessary, to help improve the quality of life for a sufferer of asbestosis.Generally, medication isn’t prescribed as there isn’t any benefit. More severe cases however may benefit from small amounts of morphine to help reduce coughing and breathlessness.

Compensation

If diagnosed with asbestosis, there is the possibility of gaining compensation, in three different ways.

Firstly, there is an industrial injuries disablement benefit, which is a weekly benefit paid to those suffering from asbestosis, who were exposed to asbestos during employment (but weren’t self-employed).

Second option is a civil claim. You would need to get legal advice and process this through the courts.

Finally, if you haven’t been able to get compensation through the courts as the employer who exposed you has ceased trading and you have asbestosis, or you are a dependant of someone who died from it, then you can apply for a lump compensation sum under the Pneumoconiosis part of the Worker’s Compensation Act 1979.

For further information on asbestos and the dangers it can cause take a look at our guide to why asbestos is dangerous.