The most common is that of the pleura: the pleural mesothelioma
It is almost always secondary to the inhalation of asbestos dust (this is known since the 60's) and possibly some refractory ceramic fibers. The microfibers of inhaled asbestos will lodge deep in the respiratory tract in the alveoli, these strong fibers migrate to the pleura from where mechanical irritation of the pleura, the basic lesion is primarily physical, not chemical. The time between exposure and disease often reaches several decades but may be shorter in some cases. This exposure may be short (one or two) and thus difficult to find and prove 40 or 50 years later.
Mesothelioma is a diseases caused by asbestos (see our article on the subject)
Smoking increases the risk of lung lesions but does not affect the risk of developing mesothelioma.
Signs of the disease are not very evocative and often late: Chest pain, neuralgia in the arm, pain in the back, in the shoulder blade. Therefore considered rather mundane
More evocative: pleural effusion (often bloody fluid between the layers of the pleura) with dyspnea (shortness of breath)
The chest X-ray is seldom useful except at an advanced stage.
Microscopic examination of the aspirate if effusion may find malignant cells
CT and MRI are the most useful examinations and diagnosis will be confirmed by a biopsy of the pleura or by thoracoscopy
Treatment: in early surgery can yield results, then radiation therapy can slow the progression finally chemotherapy will only be palliative. The prognosis is usually terrible (one year survival often only).
Prevention is therefore essential: removal of sprayed asbestos, protection of workers and their families (wife cleans clothes for example)
Asbestos is banned in France since 1997 and in many Western countries (but there are other countries where everything remains to be done ...)
The exposed occupations are numerous.
Those who pay the heaviest price were, are and will (if the maximum is expected between 2010 and 2020):
Plumbers, welders, pipefitters
Iron construction or steel workers (carpenters, shipbuilding and railway and automobile)
Sheet metal workers, boilermakers, auto mechanics and heavy
electricians
general building workers
Yourselfers "madmen"
Employment in the manufacture of articles containing asbestos (asbestos cement, asbestos textile industry until 1996 with activity carding, spinning or weaving)
Employment in the insulation (thermal or acoustic), in manufacture of electrical insulators, in power plants, refineries
car repair and other vehicles (brakes and clutch)
Fitters ventilation / heating / cooling, boiler installer
Steel (blast furnaces, coking plants, steel mills)
Glass industry
dockers
Etc. ...
