The Most Common Symptoms of Asbestos Poisoning

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Posted: May 30th, 2025 at 12:00AM - by Ashlee Arnold/Vice President

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs naturally in rock and soil. "Natural" does not mean safe, though. Due to the ways humans have come to use asbestos fibers, they can be dangerous to your health. In this blog, learn how asbestos minerals are used, how you can tell if you were exposed to asbestos, and the potential ramifications of prolonged exposure.

How Are Humans Exposed to Asbestos?

Asbestos fibers are both strong and heat-resistant, so you can find them in construction materials like roof shingles, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, pipes (specifically, the insulation around pipes), furnaces, and wall insulation, as well as in paper products, packaging, automobile parts, and cement products. This is why professionals in certain fields may be more likely to experience asbestos exposure. Asbestos-exposed workers may include automobile mechanics, electricians, railroad workers, mill workers, shipyard workers, and construction workers. This is why physical exams to check for exposure to asbestos are required annually by OSHA.

Most commonly, asbestos exposure happens when a material containing asbestos is damaged in some way, releasing asbestos fibers into the air. This is how individuals end up inhaling asbestos fibers.

While the use of asbestos has been restricted over the last several decades, it is still prevalent.

Could There Be Asbestos in Your Home?

Older homes, in particular, could potentially leave you exposed to asbestos—for example, homes built before the 1980s.

This is especially pertinent if you're doing work on the house, particularly on the walls or tiles. If you plan to do any renovations or if you notice these materials have been damaged, then it's wise to test for asbestos. The best way to do this is to hire a professional who will take a sample of the supposed asbestos and send it to a lab to get tested. If you suspect you have asbestos (you'll likely see fuzzy fibers), you shouldn't touch it, and you should avoid going near it.

If a professional detects asbestos fibers in your home, then you'll need to hire a professional to remove the asbestos source. Do not attempt to remove asbestos yourself!

What Are Common Asbestos Exposure Symptoms?

What warning signs of asbestos exposure you've possibly experienced should you look out for?

Short-term exposure to asbestos doesn't typically lead to any symptoms or asbestos-related disease. Rather, it's prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers over time that wreaks havoc. These fibers are microscopic. As you inhale the fibers, they collect in the lining of the lungs, heart, and abdominal cavity. This ultimately leads to inflammation, scarring, and even mesothelioma.

It takes a long time to show—possibly a decade or longer. In that case, when symptoms develop, you might experience:

• A dry cough that won't go away.
• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain or tightness.
• The clubbing of fingers or toes (meaning they look wider and rounder).
• A "crackling" sound when you inhale.

Even if you haven't had symptoms indicating you might have been exposed to asbestos, if you're living in an older home and think you might've found asbestos dust or fibers, it’s a smart idea to visit your healthcare provider for a check-up.

Can Asbestos Exposure Cause Permanent Damage?

Yes, if you experience asbestos exposure long-term, it may lead to asbestosis, which is a chronic lung disease that happens when the prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers damages the lung tissue. Asbestosis symptoms can be mild or severe, and, once again, they typically don't show up until years later.

Furthermore, if you have asbestosis, you're at higher risk of developing lung cancer. This is because asbestos itself is a carcinogen. Risk factors that can add to this are smoking or having a history of smoking. Note that asbestos-related disease is not genetic. You need to be exposed to asbestos. However, there are certain gene mutations that may put you at an increased risk, but they do not directly cause asbestos-related disease.

How to Get Asbestosis Diagnosed

The symptoms of asbestosis look similar to those of other respiratory problems, so it can be difficult to diagnose. However, your healthcare provider may recommend a physical evaluation, imaging tests like a chest x-ray or CT scan, pulmonary function tests, and possibly diagnostic tests like a bronchoscopy.

While there is no cure for this type of damage to lung tissue, and it can't be reversed, your provider will recommend ways to slow your asbestos-related lung disease, reduce your symptoms, avoid related adverse health effects, and prevent it from getting worse.

e7 Health offers asbestos physical exams to test for exposure to asbestos. The exam includes a review of your medical history, a pulmonary function test, and an OSHA respirator medical questionnaire. If you've been exposed to asbestos, we recommend a chest x-ray every five years within the first 10 years of exposure.

Whether you're an employer who wants to protect workers dealing with exposure to hazardous substances and practice occupational safety, or you found tiny asbestos fibers in your home and want to assess your risk and get a pulmonary function test, e7 Health can help. We have locations in southeast and northwest Las Vegas, and we usually have same-day and next-day appointments available. Book an appointment online.

Stay Ahead of Exposure to Asbestos

If you don't work with asbestos-containing materials or live in an older home, then it's likely you don't need to worry about dealing with health problems related to exposure. However, an asbestos physical exam is a quick and easy way to stay ahead of your health, if you have any concerns that you've been around asbestos products.

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