Lung, Pulmonary & Respiratory Research

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Received: January 01, 1970 | Published: ,

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Editorial

Asbestosis, a chronic lung disease that develops from inhalation of asbestos fibers, which contribute to lung tissue scarring. Asbestos fibers, a natural mineral product are heat-resistant fibrous silicate. Chrysotile is by far the most common type of asbestos fibers produced in the world and commercially virtual used in the United States. The symptoms usually don’t present until many years after continued exposure. Prolonged exposure can cause shortness of breath. Its production and use increased significantly between 1877 and 1967. Several previous studies indicated asbestos as a predisposing factor for malignant mesothelioma and bronchogenic carcinoma. Many cases come from work place exposure to asbestos before the United States federal laws regulating it were enacted in the mid-1970s. Today, its handling is strictly regulated. If we follow the employer’s safety procedures, acquiring asbestosis is extremely unlikely. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), more than 3, 000 deadly cases of it found in the United States from 1999 to 2004. Only relieving the patient’s symptoms is the focusing treatment.