Asbestos Mouth

Product Information

Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It is strong and heat resistant, which is why it was widely used in a range of products. The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer but not mesothelioma. Smoking can worsen the progression of asbestosis. The regulations described above and other actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the health hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in the U.S. use of asbestos. Domestic consumption of asbestos amounted to about 803,000 metric tons in 1973, but it had dropped to about 360 metric tons by 2015 ( 3, 5).

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for Asbestos. 2001. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. Accessed at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxProfiles/ToxProfiles.aspx?id=30&tid=4 on January 4, 2023. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Health Effects of Asbestos. Retrieved April 18, 2017. The American Cancer Society ( Jemal et al. 2006) has projected that about 30,990 new cases of and 7,430 deaths from cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx will occur in 2006. Those estimates include cancers of the mouth (the inside lining of the lips and cheeks, gums, tongue, and hard and soft palate), nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx. In the study populations considered in this review, pharyngeal cancers would be expected to occur primarily in the oropharynx. For an illustration of the lungs and a description of their functions, visit our Anatomy Gallery. Other types of cancerAlthough it is clear that the health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only brief exposures. Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear ( 2). Henley, S.J. et al. (2013). Mesothelioma incidence in 50 states and the District of Columbia, United States, 2003-2008. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23582609/

National Cancer Institute. (2017, June 7). Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). One of its goals is to identify causes of cancer. IARC classifies all forms of asbestos as “carcinogenic to humans,” based on their ability to cause mesothelioma and cancers of the lung, larynx (voice box), and ovaries.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos products are still commonly found in homes built or renovated prior to 1990. They can be harmful only if the asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in. asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring minerals that have crystallised to form fibres