Ask The Doctor: Asbestos Expo... Health Article

Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.

Question:

I was exposed to asbestos dust in my home as a result of some minor renovations. Should this be considered a major minor health concern for my family and me?

Answer:

A single exposure to a small amount of asbestos dust is very unlikely to cause health problems later on, especially if you did not perform the renovations yourself.

Materials containing asbestos will not release fibers as long as the materials are in good shape. The potential problem arises when the materials crumble or are removed without proper precaution.

How much inhaled asbestos is needed to increase risk of lung damage and cancer varies considerably from one individual to the next. Scarring in the lung and lung cancer are much more likely to occur when the person is a smoker and has heavy asbestos exposure.

People with high and prolonged asbestos exposure are at risk for malignant mesothelioma, a very rare cancer of the lining of the lung. When it does occur, mesothelioma shows up 20 to 30 years after the asbestos exposure.