As we’ve discussed, the most recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that women’s cancer mortality has increased by about 25% from 1990 to 2020.

But what’s behind this increase?

The CDC found that you can get any number of asbestos illnesses by breathing in dust off the clothing of an asbestos worker. For example, a wife washing her husband’s clothing after a day at work puts herself at risk of exposure.

It could also be from a woman interacting with, or riding in a vehicle, with someone in asbestos-tainted clothing. Therefore, even if a person has never worked in an industry with asbestos, they could still have breathed in fiber and been diagnosed with a disease as a result.

History of Asbestos

Asbestos was once considered a “mineral milagroso” and is a naturally occurring mineral in six different forms. It was frequently used for over one hundred years because of its strength, resilience, and heat-resistant properties.

It wasn’t until the 1920s that scientists first recognized the adverse effects of asbestos. However, despite knowing the truth, asbestos companies did what they could to prove it was safe.

The use of asbestos was largely phased out beginning in the 1980s because it was found to cause diseases, including cancer. However, previous asbestos exposure puts an individual at risk for developing future illnesses.

Risk Factors for Asbestos Health Issues

Women were no strangers to being exposed occupationally to asbestos, but research shows they could also be at risk for second-hand asbestos exposure.^[1]

Second-hand asbestos exposure is also known as:

● Para-occupational exposure

● Domestic exposure

● Take-home exposure

● Household contact

Secondary asbestos exposure means a person doesn’t have to have frontline contact to be at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses.

Industries at most significant risk for asbestos diseases include the following:

Construcción	Fábricas	Fundiciones	Refinerías	Astilleros	Mining/Milling
Demolición	Aislamiento	Trabajadores del acero	Instalación de tuberías	Construcción naval	Mecánicos
Techumbre	Textiles	Herreros	Calderas	Extinción de incendios	Reparación de frenos
Piso	Cemento	Electricistas	Reparación de juntas	Ferrocarril	Climatización

If you or someone you were close to worked in any of the above industries, you should get tested. Research also confirms third-hand exposure to asbestos through surfaces, tools, and dust tracked into the home.

The CDC warns that mesothelioma in women is likely underreported and under-addressed since 1 in 5 were homemakers at the height of the asbestos era.

Unfortunately, asbestos has no smell or taste, making it difficult to know whether it has been ingested.

The National Cancer Institute reports that investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with solely brief exposure.^[2]

Evidence also shows that once a person inhale asbestos, some fibers may never leave the lungs, leading to permanent damage.

Dangers of Second-Hand Asbestos Exposure

Generally, second-hand exposure to asbestos stems from its fibers that easily stick to skin and clothing. The microscopic fibers can be smaller than the width of human hair but can cause considerable damage.

While second-hand exposure isn’t as prominent today as in the 20th century, take-home asbestos exposure still presents a potential health hazard for millions of Americans.

The latest CDC study showed that between 1999 and 2020, 12,227 malignant mesothelioma deaths occurred among women 25 years old and older in the United States. In addition, the disease proved fatal for 11,093 women aged fifty-five and older.

The study also listed the following seven states with the highest death rate for asbestos exposure during 1999 and 2020:

● Louisiana

● Maine

● Minnesota

● Montana

● Oregon

● Washington

● Wisconsin

In addition, the following three occupations had the highest number of mesothelioma cases among women:

● Homemakers

● Elementary and Middle School Teachers

● Registered Nurses

The CDC reports that women with a husband or father working in the asbestos-related industry are ten times more likely to develop mesothelioma.

Getting Tested

There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, so women whose spouse or parents worked in an industrial job before the mid-1980s, when many asbestos products began being phased out, should get tested.^[3]

It’s recommended to visit a B reader, a certified doctor by the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH). B readers are specifically trained to examine a patient’s lungs for signs of disease.

A doctor initially may use a stethoscope to listen to a patient’s lungs, but the most thorough way to test for asbestos exposure is with a chest x-ray or CT scan. Typically, a physician will begin with an x-ray and resort to a CT scan if the initial images aren’t clear.

Asbestos fibers damage the body’s DNA, often leading to abnormal cell growth and cancer due to genetic changes. The fibers also become stuck with the lung’s sensitive tissue if ingested or inhaled.

Common diseases and illnesses associated with asbestos exposure:

● Lung cancer

● Mesothelioma

● Asbestosis

● Pleural disease

Unfortunately, many side effects don’t appear for years, so it’s crucial that a person seeks medical treatment with any signs of disease, especially if they can directly link themselves to asbestos exposure.

Treatment Options

Most patients with mesothelioma don’t experience symptoms, making treatment difficult in the early stages of the disease. Generally, it can take decades for asbestos diseases to appear, with millions finding out about their illness many years after exposure.

Treatment options aren’t cheap, even if partially covered by insurance. For example, many who suffer from mesothelioma likely need one or more of the following:

● Chemotherapy

● Surgery

● Radiation therapy

It’s reported that each time a mesothelioma patient requires hospitalization for routine treatments, that patient and their health insurance are responsible for what is generally tens of thousands of dollars.

Protecting Yourself from Asbestos Exposure

While you can’t turn back time and remove previous exposure to asbestos, you can proceed with caution when handling specific home improvement projects.

Remember, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, so you must practice safety anytime you encounter asbestos.

Lastly, future environmental and occupational exposure is possible due to demolition of older buildings when done with inadequate protection of workers.

If you or someone close to you works in an industry susceptible to asbestos exposure, ensure you are given precautionary equipment to remain safe on the jobsite.

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^[1] Lanphear, B.P. and Buncher, C.R., 1992. Latent period for malignant mesothelioma of occupational origin. JOM, 34(7), pp.718-721

^[2] https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet

^[3] Goswami, E., Craven, V., Dahlstrom, D.L., Alexander, D. and Mowat, F., 2013. Domestic asbestos exposure: a review of epidemiologic and exposure data. International journal of environmental research and public health, 10(11), pp.5629-5670.