The age at which one is exposed to asbestos may indicate whether that person develops mesothelioma, a recent French study shows.
The study that appeared in the European Respiratory Journal showed that older workers had less of a chance of developing mesothelioma than their younger counterparts.
Mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the heart, lung or abdomen, is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Although it’s rare, it’s commonly diagnosed in people who worked with the substance including pipefitters, roofers and insulation installers. About 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with the disease each year.
The French study charted 2,466 exposed males from a case-control study from 1987 to 1993 and the French National Mesothelioma Surveillance Program from 1998 to 2006. The researchers evaluated the age, length of exposure, exposure intensity and the occupations of the individuals.
Specifically, the study found that the risk of mesothelioma increased in those who were in their early 20s. The risk level increased until 30 years after an individual’s exposure. But the older the person is, the less likely the individual will develop symptoms of mesothelioma, the study revealed.
The most likely reason for the decreased risk in older people is mesothelioma’s lengthy latency period. It can take several decades for the effects of asbestos exposure to manifest into mesothelioma. Some patients have been known to develop mesothelioma symptoms 50 years after initial exposure. Inhaling the tiniest fibers can eventually lead to complications. Scientists have said there is no safe level of exposure.
Common symptoms include difficulty breathing, fatigue, unexplained weight loss or dry cough.
France, the location of the study, is one of the more progressive nations when it comes to banning asbestos. However, many countries, including the United States, still have not issued an outright ban on the mineral. Canada, China, Brazil and Russia are the most prominent countries that mine asbestos. In the first half of 2011 the United States imported 1,100 tons of asbestos, according to the United States Geological Survey. About 60 percent of the asbestos manufactured in the United States during 2011 was used to make roofing products.
For many years, the United States asbestos industry purposely hid the dangers of asbestos from workers and consumers. Millions died as a result. Today many homes, schools and businesses that were built prior to the 1980s contain high levels of asbestos. It can be found in ceiling tiles and insulation and is usually harmless if undisturbed. But the tiny asbestos fibers cannot be detected to the naked eye and individuals don’t usually know when they are exposed.