Are You At Risk of Mesthelioma Cancer?

The short answer is yes. Asbestos is a widely used product that has been used in everything from schools and work places, to appliance lining, and anywhere a fireproof barrier is needed. Today, the air, drinking water, and even some consumer products may contain small amounts of asbestos.

Asbestos fibers are also released into the environment from natural deposits in the earth. Wear and deterioration of asbestos products releases more fibers into the air. People who have a single, high-level exposure, incident, or are exposed for a short period of lower levels of asbestos, are not likely to be placed at risk.

How to Be Tested

People who risk exposure to asbestos fibers on the job or at home through family contact need to inform their doctor of their exposure history and symptoms. Asbestos fibers can be measured in urine, feces, mucus (fluid coming out of the body), or material rinsed out of the lungs.

A thorough physical exam, including a chest x-ray lung function tests, may be recommended, but it is not an adequate test unless the body is tested for fibers. A chest x-ray cannot reveal fibers, just changes in the lungs. The x-ray must be sent to an experienced specialist who understands how to look for asbestos-related diseases.