Asbestos Exposure

Other conditions
1

Hi All,

About a year a go I drilled into what I now know to be asbestos containing material on 3 or 4 separate occasions, to put up shelving etc. I didn't wear any protective equipment and even remember getting a faceful of dust. I'm now very concerned. Should I be worried? Is there any action I should take? Thanks. Danny 

2

Ask your GP if any tests can be taken, on a preventative basis. I don't actually know whether this or anything else is possible, but there's no harm in asking. Other than that, you're effectively just waiting to see if any damage was ultimately done by this. If you're an employee, you might want to ask why your employer didn't know about the danger in the first place. 

3

Thanks STD.

4

asbestosis occurs follows repeated day in day out exposure....not your case at all so thats the first thing..

the second is thats its always a good idea to do a cleanse and also to pay attention to lung health ....so in addition to walking yoga breathing exercises ... a nice mucilaginous herb such as mallow is very good to grow, harvest and make into a tea.

a good expectorant is lungwort.... and thyme in a very thick strong brew helps to purify the lungs as well...both of these and others which you can investigate on line will assist the mucous membrane of the lungs to remove any particles or dust...which you can then either spit out or swallow.

hope this helps and don't worry !! take action x

5

Thank you Marey, that is very helpful.

6

welcome danny.

i know how you feel ..i used to work as a sparks (an electrician) for some years ...inevitably you inhale a bit of dust and who knows what it could be..? so i received the same advice then myself....it is reassuring to hear.

prior to that i had cured myself of bronchitis...mostly by cutting out dairy.....i'm ok with a little dairy now.

if someone was regularly exposed to asbestos...and i have nursed chron brons and asthmatics....i would not immediately encourage deep breathing..but rather superficial, shallow breathing until they have successfully expectorated any dust particles..this can be done with expectorants and herbs as well as breathing a balsam...prob hot water added to T tree would be the modern equivalent.....thereafter the very simple act of lying on a pillow or two beneath the butt and one under the head (to avoid getting a headache)...we used to raise the foot end of the patients bed....  allows gravity to operate to clear the lungs...the patient can then just cough gently to clear the airway....you would feel any dust or other particles coming up ...on the mucous membrane elevator. isn't nature marvellous!!?

glad to have helped...very best wishes

7

Wl danny i was a licenced asbestos stripper up unyil 14 yrs ago and i can certainly say you should go to your doctors for a respiratory test explain everything to him, but i would'nt worry until you know but if this is any help to you it can take upto 15yrs before any symptoms appear normally it is only when you have had long term exposure to asbestos, called mesothelioma the correct wording, but my personal opinion is you should be absolutely fine, do you know what type of asbestos it was because there are three types of asbestos

 

8

tb

so good to hear of your experience! are you ok yourself ?

how frequently did you get tested during your work and do you still go now? you all clear?

thanks for doing this work ...very noble...please stay safe!

thinking of you 

9

Thanks again. I shall give this a go. BW

10

Hi and thanks. Not sure what type it was. It was in the plaster, so I'm assuming white or brown, unlikely blue. How is your health after working in that kind of environment? All good i hope.

11

Hi Marey, i was tested yearly at a private dr's paid by the firm i worked for and have been all clear upto now, and showing no signs of ill health besides arthritis due to working in wet damp conditions,  but no mesothelioma, thanks for the last comment about staying safe & thinking of me , cheers Marey

 

12

Hi Danny, it sounds like white asbestos to me by saying it was in the wall they used it as insulation years ago but did'nt know the effect it would have in years to come, old joiners where very susceptible with sawing it to fit areas, as for my health upto now touch wood it is good as far as mesothelioma is concerned but i have arthritis due to working in  damp wet conditions over the years , but unfortunately i have had 2 friends die from mesothelioma 1 was my daughters grand father, the other a colleague, btu thanks for asking

13

o o h  welcome!

glad you're ok. hey hows your diet? lot can be done to overcome arthritis....you avoiding junk foods and sugar?

lots of fresh veg and veg smoothies and organic bone broth....thats key...check out how to make it on line eg the paleo mom com ....insert dots in spaces!

14

your daughter's grandfather isn't your dad? its a non biological relationship? am curious as had to think to follow you...but not wishing to intrude!

15

my daughters grandfather is not my dad but my ex's.  My Daughter lives with me and my new wife,

16

there we are....its got through the brain fog....had to be something like that....not too many other options are there?!

very best wishes to you and all the family

17

Asbestos exposure occurs when someone inhales or swallows asbestos fibers. Just about everyone breathes in asbestos from the outside air, but these trace amounts rarely cause health problems. While no level of asbestos exposure is considered safe, most asbestos-related illnesses arise after heavy, repeated exposures.Harmful exposures happen in a wide range of occupational settings. Construction work and home renovations can be especially hazardous because many common building materials contain asbestos. When asbestos products start to deteriorate, or someone cuts, sands, drills or otherwise disturbs them, microscopic fibers enter the air.

For instance, the sandblasting practices of Alaska-based shipbuilding and repair facility Seward Ship's Drydock have come under fire by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). The ADEC issued a notice of violation to Seward Ship's Drydock for uncontrolled "fugitive particulate emissions" at its sandblasting operations. If workers were sandblasting asbestos-containing materials such as paint, insulation or joint compounds off of a vessel, the asbestos fibers released were no longer confined to the sandblasted area and possibly inhaled by individuals elsewhere in the shipyard.

Fibers can remain airborne for hours, placing anyone nearby in danger. Once inhaled, they become trapped in the respiratory tract and lungs, where they may stay for life.

18

Hi all,

I was helping a friend out tearing down dry wall in his house last year.  Not too long after we were finished working with it all he tells me there was asbestos in the dry wall. For the most part we were wearing facial masks and the tearing down of the dry wall was only maybe two days work maximum.

I have been having problems with my chest though even as much as a month afterwords. I am just wondering if I should get seen to or not? I know most things say symptoms arent found usually til ten years or so later. Any help would be great.