Signs and Symptoms

Pleural Disease. The pleura is a thin tissue that surrounds the lung. Exposure to asbestos may cause the pleura to thicken or harden (calcify). These changes, called plaques, can be seen on chest x-rays. Some people with asbestos related pleural disease may never have any symptoms, but the presence of plaques is positive evidence of past exposure and damage to the lung tissue.

Asbestosis. Inhaling asbestos over many years can cause scarring of the lungs. This condition is called asbestosis. Scarring is a natural healing response of the body to a cut or injury, but when thick scar tissue forms in the lungs it makes it very hard for the lungs to deliver oxygen to the rest of the body. During the early stages of scarring, a person does not notice any symptoms. But as the scarring continues, a person feels increasing shortness of breath and usually develops a dry cough.

Fatigue, weight loss, and chest pain may be experienced. At this stage of the illness, a doctor listening through a stethoscope can hear a sound similar to Velcro being pulled apart when the person breathes in. This sound is called "rales." Chest x-rays at this stage will usually show the scarring (called "fibrosis" by physicians) in the mid and lower parts of the lung. Lung function tests (described under Medical Screening) will usually show that the amount of air that the lung can hold has decreased and that the lung is having problems exchanging oxygen with carbon dioxide, which is its major job.

The shortness of breath caused by scarring can become severe enough to make normal activities like walking and dressing seem difficult. A person with asbestosis is more likely to get infections of the lungs, such as pneumonia. The symptoms can be lessened by avoiding exposures to dusts, fumes, and cigarette smoke. Serious infections can be prevented by proper care and attention to early signs of colds or flu. When the lungs are damaged, there is an extra strain put on the heart, which must pump more blood through the body to make up for the lower amount of oxygen in the blood. Persons at risk for asbestosis also need to pay attention to factors in their diet, lifestyle, and workplace that can lead to heart disease.

There are other signs that doctors might look for in an examination for asbestos-related diseases.

Sometimes asbestos fibers will work their way into the skin and a thickened area of skin called a "licom" will form around the fibers. Some asbestosis victims also have "clubbing" or thickening of the fingertips. These signs are not usually the most serious of the symptoms, but they an help confirm a diagnosis.