Asbestos
Beryllium
Cadmium
Chromium
Lead
Mercury
Noise
Radiation
Silica
Solvents
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral. It was used as building and equipment insulation and in many industrial and commercial products. Asbestos was phased out in the 1970s and 1980s.Asbestos can cause disease when fine asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs. The lungs cannot easily expel asbestos fibers.
If you smoke and have been exposed to asbestos, you have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer than does someone who smokes but has not been exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos can cause asbestosis, a lung disease. The first symptom of asbestosis is shortness of breath. The severity of this disease is related to the duration of exposure and the amount of fiber inhaled.Asbestos also can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen. Another effect of asbestos exposure may be pleural plaques around the lungs. These plaques are a thickening of the lung lining.
What We Look For
To help detect lung disease, you may have a chest x-ray. You also may have spirometry testing. Spirometry measures your breathing capacity. If you test positive, you will be referred to your doctor or advised of the specialty consultation needed for any additional test or treatment.If you are found to have asbestos disease, you would need to limit your exposure to all respiratory irritants and fumes. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe special breathing exercises or other treatment.
Confidentiality
All test results are confidential. You will receive a letter summarizing your examination and photocopies of your test results which you may share with your personal physician.
