Print

Print
Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Asbestos Exposure Interesting, but very curious that he reports that his lung function test has improved since he took up smoking. What you write suggest that his exposure was not recent, hence the regular lung function tests.

The link between smoking and an improvement in lung function is spurious as not only does smoking adversely affect lung health in the general, otherwise healthy population, smoking is a known risk factor for emphysema for example.  As Jean points, out smoking is known to exacerbate the effects of asbestos exposure.

I suspect that the person you refer to below likes to think that smoking helps his respiratory health as it gives an excuse to carry on with the habit. A bit like the stance of “My great uncle Bill smoked 40 a day til he was 80 and only died when he was run over by a bus ”.

Anne


On 25/6/09 20:05, "Pippa Clark" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I am aware of a man whose parents and wife died of this. The father and son worked with boilers years ago. He is seen yearly at the Brompton where he has a lung function test and 2-3 yearly chest x ray. Apparently his lft has improved since he took up smoking a few cigarettes a day!

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

From:          [log in to unmask]
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:47:36 -0400
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Asbestos Exposure
Living in an asbestos hot spot this is an ongoing subject of concern for so many employees. Many people will have been exposed as a child or whilst at work depending on their type of employment. Many continue to be exposed and don't realise it. The problem is not asbestos but rather when it is disturbed and in fibre form.
 As a matter of interest asbestos is also found in artex upto 1992.
 There are no tests which will assist they only tell once the individual has the illness. Early reporting of symptoms is important.
 There are known increased risk factors such as smoking.  A colleague has lost a grandfather, uncle and mother to mesothelioma. Coroner has found it was not work related but related to where they lived as a family.



 -----Original Message-----
 From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Sent: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 8:49
 Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Asbestos Exposure

  
Hello Nicky  I am not an expert in asbestos and others on the list may be more expert in this field than myself so am open to correction. I am not surprised that possible exposure to asbestos caused concern - that is inevitable.  From what you have explained a lung function test at the time would have been a waste of time anyway. The adverse effects of asbestos exposure take years to develop. Asbestos fibres are microscopic so even a CXR would not have indicated any inhaled fibres. With regards to having any tests at the time affecting life insurance  - can't follow the logic of that - it is the exposure to asbestos which is the problem not any tests which follow it.  Hope this is helpful  Anne   On 25/6/09 08:31, "Nicky Johns" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:  > Hi All, >  > I wonder if anyone can help; I have about 20-30 members of staff who were > involved in an incident where there may have been some asbestos exposure > about 5 years ago (prior to my enployment). From the information I have risk > was minimum; however caused quite considerable concern. An OHP from local > trust spoke to staff providing an explaination of asbestos and the follow up > required; he also felt risk was minimal from investigation reports, type of > asbestos etc. He did not recommend any investigations; however staff > persisted with their concerns and were offered Lung Function Tests at the > local NHS Trust. However when I have looked into this further, as a member of > staff who is absent with stress has expressed her concerns it seems many > staff did not attend for these investigations as they had been told (by who I > don't know) that having the investigation would affect their life insurance! >  > Has anybody heard of this? I have written to the hospital, they inform me no > one has attended for any investigation; however after contacting staff three > have told me they attended and had lung function tests. Once I have recievd > all informaiton from staff, I will contact the hospital again. >  > I'd be grateful for your thoughts, many thanks >  > Kind regards >  > Nicky >  > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Please remove this footer before replying. >  > OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html >  > CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH >  > OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH JOBS > http://OHJobs.drmaze.net <http://ohjobs.drmaze.net/>  >  > OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING EDUCATION > http://www.aohne.org.uk <http://www.aohne.org.uk/>  >   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying.  OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES:http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html  CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS:http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH  OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH JOBShttp://OHJobs.drmaze.net <http://ohjobs.drmaze.net/>   OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING EDUCATIONhttp://www.aohne.org.uk <http://www.aohne.org.uk/>

Click here <http://www.aol.co.uk/?ncid=acquktaglinehp01>  to get the very best of AOL, including news, sport, gossip, lifestyles updates and email.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying.

 OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html

 CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH

 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH JOBS http://OHJobs.drmaze.net

 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING EDUCATION http://www.aohne.org.uk

  

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying.

OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html

CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH JOBS http://OHJobs.drmaze.net

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSING EDUCATION http://www.aohne.org.uk