Asbestos fibers, when inhaled can get trapped inside the tiny air sacs where the exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place within the lungs. In order to get rid of these asbestos fibers from the lungs, our immune system will react through an inflammatory process. Though the white blood cells try to break down these asbestos fibers, these often fail in their efforts and eventually rupture and die. This, in turn, will attract fibroblasts or scarring cells to the site and initiate the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the lungs. The scar tissue formation in the lungs can restrict the ability to breathe as well as cut down the oxygen reaching the blood in other parts of the body. Scarring can develop in the pleura, the lining between the lungs and the chest wall, and often occurs in association with asbestosis. This makes it important for workers to share their work history with their doctor and undergo routine check-ups. Additionally, it can take decades before a person starts experiencing symptoms and gets a proper diagnosis, which is very dangerous. Lung scarring may be associated with the following signs and symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic dry cough
- Aches in the muscles and joints
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fatigue
