Breathing for a living pdf file download

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Secure the perimeter of unsafe areas with security personnel or other security systems. Provide distraction and redirection through supervised and structured daily activities, including some form of daily exercise, such as individual walks outside with staff members.

Communication Residents with dementia may possess a limited ability to understand the information they are receiving about COVID, which could lead to a range of responses, including fear and anxiety.

If residents express concern about the pandemic, facility staff should: For those who are aware of what is going on and concerned about it, provide information from authoritative sources such as DHS or the CDC. Take the time to listen to the person and their concerns, validate their feelings, and provide reassurance. Provide simple, truthful answers to their questions, explaining that everyone is doing all they can to help. Consider minimizing the flow of media information by turning off the hour news cycle on TV in shared areas.

Ask news watchers to do so in their rooms. Staff should not discuss their own anxieties and opinions in front of residents. Updated April 19, This guidance provides information for nursing homes and assisted living facilities that offer on-site hair salon and barber services. Policies, Procedures, and Supplies The facility should: Develop and follow facility policies and procedures that incorporate CDC guidance regarding cleaning and disinfection protocols, as well as employee screening. Develop and implement procedures that address infection control measures and the management of safe salon services.

Implement an ongoing facility auditing system to check for compliance with the facility's policies and procedures for safe salon services. Limit contact of the cosmetologist with other residents and staff as much as possible. This may be accomplished by having a separate area for salon services close to the entrance of the facility, but is not required.

Try to develop a path that avoids walking through resident care areas. Have an adequate supply of PPE and essential cleaning and disinfection supplies for facility staff and cosmetologists. Develop a process for cleaning cosmetology equipment for example: scissors, combs, and brushes. Have adequate resident care staff. Test negative for COVID prior to resuming services in the facility, and participate in any ongoing routine staff testing guidance followed by the facility.

Be screened for signs and symptoms of illness before each visit, including all signs or symptoms of COVID cough, fever or chills, diarrhea, a new loss of taste or smell, close contact with someone with COVID during the prior 14 days, undergoing evaluation for COVID such as a pending viral test, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or any other respiratory symptoms.

Practice hand hygiene before and after contact with residents. Use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred, but soap and water for at least 20 seconds can also be performed.

Wear a well-fitted facemask procedure or surgical mask upon entry to the facility. Wear facility-designated and provided PPE, including eye protection and a well-fitted facemask procedure or surgical mask when delivering hair salon services. Resident capes should be changed between residents and laundered before being used again. Sign a statement attesting that he or she will follow all facility policies and procedures regarding salon and barber services to ensure facility safety.

The cosmetologist should not dry hair using a hand held hair dryer. The facility should: Verify that the resident is well with no signs or symptoms of COVID cough, fever or chills, diarrhea, a new loss of taste or smell, close contact with someone with COVID during the prior 14 days, undergoing evaluation for COVID such as a pending viral test, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or any other respiratory symptoms, difficulty breathing or any other respiratory symptoms before coming to their appointment.

Ensure that each appointment is prescheduled. Walk-ins should not be allowed. Keep a record of the name of each resident client and the time and date of each salon visit. Ensure that residents maintain social distancing of at least six feet between persons inside the salon and in any waiting area.

Ensure that each resident wash or sanitize their hands before entering or leaving the salon. Ensure that each resident wears a face covering preferably a face mask rather than a cloth face covering at all times while in transit to and from the salon and while in the salon, including during washing, cutting, perming, and coloring.

Clean and disinfect the salon at the end of the day using products on the EPA List N Disinfectants for Coronavirus shown to be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus Facilities will need to determine whether they can follow these guidelines to ensure they can provide salon and barber services safely.

Minimum Planning Should Include Developing a contingency staffing plan that identifies the minimum staffing needs and prioritizes critical services based on residents' needs.

Assigning a person to conduct a daily assessment of staffing status and needs during a COVID outbreak. Contracting with staffing agencies, local hospitals, and clinics to fill roles as appropriate. Exploring all state-specific emergency waivers or changes to licensure requirements or renewals that may allow for hiring and staffing flexibility.

Strategies to Lessen Staffing Shortages As a facility deviates from their standard recruitment, hiring, and training practices, there may be higher risks to the staff and residents. Consider implementing strategies to mitigate staffing shortages, including the following: Over-communicate with staff.

Staff need to know what is happening and what to expect. Understand your staffing needs and the minimum number of staff needed to provide a safe work environment and resident care. Communicate with local healthcare coalitions; federal, state, and local public health partners; and Wisconsin Healthcare Readiness Coalition HERC to identify additional local staff.

Make sure all staff are working to their full scope of licensure. Work with staffing agencies to bring in temporary staff. Hire additional staff by recruiting retired staff, students, or volunteers when applicable. Cross-train staff so that they are able to work in multiple roles. Adjust staff schedules. Create flexible schedules with 4, 8, 10, or hour shifts. Vary shifts depending on responsibilities.

For example, shorter shifts could be set aside for duties such as performing assessments or dispensing medications, while longer shifts could be used for cleaning and disinfecting the facility. Address barriers and social factors that might prevent staff from working. Examples include: Transportation—Provide ride service to and from work.

Provide a rental vehicle. Provide zero or low interest loans to purchase a used vehicle. Housing—Provide temporary housing to staff who live with vulnerable individuals.

This could be a hotel, local dormitories that are not being utilized, recreational vehicles RVs on the premises, or a live-in model in unoccupied wings of the facility. Mental well-being—Provide resources to ensure individuals are able to cope with working in nursing homes and assisted living facilities during a pandemic.

This may include counseling, online resources such as Resilient Wisconsin , or other resources for coping with stress. Compensation—Consider providing additional pay for working in a COVID unit or in a COVID-positive facility for example, increasing hourly pay for every hour worked during the pandemic or providing a bonus for staff that work during the pandemic.

Consider paying staff who may need to be quarantined following an exposure at work. Recognition—Find nonmonetary ways to recognize staff for their efforts and boost morale. Provide uniforms that can be left at work. Provide meals and snacks to staff. For campuses or organizations with multiple facilities or are part of health systems, consider redeploying staff to the areas with the most critical needs. Facilities will need to ensure these staff have received appropriate orientation and training to work in the areas that are new to them.

Information from facilities that would expedite this process includes: Contact information at the facility. A brief description of the situation at the facility. The duration of time you will need the volunteers for.

A brief description of duties. Information on whether you will compensate people or are looking for volunteers. The date you need people to start. Facilities will complete and return the Facility Eligibility for Services Questionnaire.

Please be as specific as possible in documenting what the facility has done to mitigate staffing shortages to date. Note that the information collected on the Facility Eligibility for Service Questionnaire is for informational purposes only. After receiving the completed Facility Eligibility for Service Questionnaire, DHS will request that the facility submit a Scope of Work detailing the services requested.

DHS will then match the requesting facility with an appropriate temporary agency staffing vendor. DHS 83 Wis. DHS 88 Wis. Prior to any COVID positive residents or staff being identified in the facility or any facility-wide COVID testing, LTCFs should be reviewing and revising their emergency staffing plans to ensure adequate staffing in the event positive staff are identified. Facilities should also identify how the facility can establish a COVID unit within their facility and how that would impact their staffing plan.

Making exceptions to this recommended practice will increase the risk of COVID to residents of long-term care facilities, but may be necessary in a crisis situation.

As COVID positive staff are identified and additional staffing resources need to be found, the facility should work through their emergency staffing plan, as well as the crisis staffing plan outlined above.

As soon as the facility feels they have exhausted all resources described above in the DQA crisis staffing plan and still does not have adequate staff to provide the care, treatment and services to the residents, they should submit a variance request to their DQA regional office.

If the request contains sufficient information, the request will be approved for a limited time period with reporting to the DQA regional office. The following criteria should be met if this is allowed. There needs to be a separate entrance and break area for staff. To prevent transmission between staff, only asymptomatic COVID positive staff should be working on this wing once it is allowed, and should not leave the unit for any reason.

The facility should have enough of the proper personal protective equipment to prevent transmission of the virus, including face mask, gowns, gloves, and face shields.

Face masks must be worn by asymptomatic COVID positive staff at all times including as they walk in the building and other nonpatient care areas in the facility. Strict symptom monitoring prior to and during their shift of these staff needs to be implemented. Facility representatives should meet daily with their LHD to assess current staffing levels to determine when allowing asymptomatic COVID staff to return to work prior to completion of isolation should be discontinued.

Background With the onset of COVID in our state, assisted living facilities have worked creatively to provide a living environment for residents that is as homelike as possible while being the least restrictive of each resident's rights and freedoms.

Revised Safer Visitation Guidance in Assisted Living Facilities: Guiding Principles Facilities shall expand visitation beyond visits already allowed to now support indoor visitation for all residents, regardless of vaccination status, except for a few circumstances listed below when visitation should be limited, though not necessarily prohibited, depending on each resident's situation.

Location of visitation if occurring indoors: If the resident is in a single-person room, visitation should occur in the resident's room, if preferred. Visits for residents who share a room should ideally not be conducted in the resident's room, unless both residents have been vaccinated.

If in-room visitation must occur such as if the resident is unable to leave the room , an unvaccinated roommate should not be present during the visit. If neither resident is able to leave the room, facilities should attempt to enable in-room visitation while maintaining recommended infection prevention and control practices, including physical distancing and source control.

If visitation is occurring in a designated area in the facility, facilities should coordinate visits so that multiple visits are not occurring simultaneously, to the extent possible. If simultaneous visits do occur, everyone in the designated area should wear source control and physical distancing should be maintained between different visitation groups regardless of vaccination status.

However, if the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact including touch with their unvaccinated visitor s while both continue to wear well-fitting source control.

Resources for monitoring local disease activity levels include: DHS COVID Activity Level by Region and County Local Public Health Healthcare Personnel HCP refers to all paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials, including body substances for example, blood, tissue, and specific body fluids ; contaminated medical supplies, devices, and equipment; contaminated environmental surfaces; or contaminated air.

Additional factors to consider when implementing visitation practices: Screen all who enter the facility for all signs and symptoms of COVID for example, temperature checks, questions or observations about signs or symptoms, close contact to someone with COVID during the past 14 days, undergoing evaluation for COVID, such as a pending viral test due to exposure or close contact to a person with COVID , and deny entry of those with any signs or symptoms.

Educate visitors and residents to perform hand hygiene before and after visits use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred. Monitor that visitors wear a well-fitting face covering or mask covering mouth and nose unless contraindicated. If there are barriers to masking, such as a medical reason, alternatives will be discussed with the resident or visitor s and an individualized, alternate plan will be implemented that is acceptable to the resident, facility and the visitor.

If an individualized plan is not achievable, the visitor s should be denied entry into the facility, and the reason for the denial is fully explained to the resident. Post instructional signage throughout the facility and provide proper visitor education on COVID signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, other applicable facility practices for example, use of face covering or mask, specified entries, exits and routes to designated areas, hand hygiene.

High-touch surfaces in visitation areas should be frequently cleaned and disinfected to include before and after each visit. This includes, but is not limited to, a resident's room or apartment. Conduct resident and staff testing as recommended. Administrative Controls Visits should occur according to the needs and wishes of the resident to include accommodating visits during evening, weekend, and holiday hours. The capacity of the room or area should be considered when multiple visits are occurring.

Facilities should enable visits to be conducted with a careful consideration for privacy. Staff should not monitor visits unless a specific reason exists, based on the individual needs of a resident. Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion are the most frequent symptoms of CO poisoning.

According to the American Lung Association ALA [ 33 ] , breathing low levels of CO can cause fatigue and increase chest pain in people with chronic heart disease.

Higher levels of CO can cause flulike symptoms in healthy people. In addition, extremely high levels of CO cause loss of consciousness and death. In the home, any fuel-burning appliance that is not adequately vented and maintained can be a potential source of CO. The following steps should be followed to reduce CO as well as sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen levels:.

ALA recommends weighing the benefits of using models powered by electrical outlets versus models powered by batteries that run out of power and need replacing. Battery-powered CO detectors provide continuous protection and do not require recalibration in the event of a power outage.

Electric-powered systems do not provide protection during a loss of power and can take up to 2 days to recalibrate. A device that can be easily self-tested and reset to ensure proper functioning should be chosen.

Ozone Inhaling ozone can damage the lungs. Inhaling small amounts of ozone can result in chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation. Ozone can also exacerbate chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. Susceptibility to the effects of ozone varies from person to person, but even healthy people can experience respiratory difficulties from exposure.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [ 34 ] , the major source of indoor ozone is outdoor ozone. The Food and Drug Administration has set a limit of 0. In recent years, there have been numerous advertisements for ion generators that destroy harmful indoor air pollutants. These devices create ozone or elemental oxygen that reacts with pollutants. Ozone is also created by the exposure of polluted air to sunlight or ultraviolet light emitters.

This ozone produced outside of the home can infiltrate the house and react with indoor surfaces, creating additional pollutants. The physiologic effects of ETS are numerous. ETS can trigger asthma; irritate the eyes, nose, and throat; and cause ear infections in children, respiratory illnesses, and lung cancer.

ETS is believed to cause asthma by irritating chronically inflamed bronchial passages. Laboratory analysis has revealed that ETS contains in excess of 4, substances, more than 60 of which cause cancer in humans or animals. Additionally, passive smoking can lead to coughing, excess phlegm, and chest discomfort. NCI also notes that spontaneous abortion miscarriage , cervical cancer, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, nasal sinus cancer, decreased lung function, exacerbation of cystic fibrosis, and negative cognitive and behavioral effects in children have been linked to ETS [ 36 ].

The EPA [ 37 ] states that, because of their relative body size and respiratory rates, children are affected by ETS more than adults are. It is estimated that an additional 7, to 15, hospitalizations resulting from increased respiratory infections occur in children younger than 18 months of age due to ETS exposure.

The following actions are recommended in the home to protect children from ETS:. Volatile Organic Compounds In the modern home, many organic chemicals are used as ingredients in household products.

Organic chemicals that vaporize and become gases at normal room temperature are collectively known as VOCs. Examples of common items that can release VOCs include paints, varnishes, and wax, as well as in many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products.

Levels of approximately a dozen common VOCs can be two to five times higher inside the home, as opposed to outside, whether in highly industrialized areas or rural areas. VOCs that frequently pollute indoor air include toluene, styrene, xylenes, and trichloroethylene.

Some of these chemicals may be emitted from aerosol products, dry-cleaned clothing, paints, varnishes, glues, art supplies, cleaners, spot removers, floor waxes, polishes, and air fresheners. The health effects of these chemicals are varied. Trichlorethylene has been linked to childhood leukemia. Exposure to toluene can put pregnant women at risk for having babies with neurologic problems, retarded growth, and developmental problems.

Xylenes have been linked to birth defects. Styrene is a suspected endocrine disruptor, a chemical that can block or mimic hormones in humans or animals. EPA data reveal that methylene chloride, a common component of some paint strippers, adhesive removers, and specialized aerosol spray paints, causes cancer in animals [ 38 ]. Methylene chloride is also converted to CO in the body and can cause symptoms associated with CO exposure.

Benzene, a known human carcinogen, is contained in tobacco smoke, stored fuels, and paint supplies. Perchloroethylene, a product uncommonly found in homes, but common to dry cleaners, can be a pollution source by off-gassing from newly cleaned clothing.

Environmental Media Services [ 39 ] also notes that xylene, ketones, and aldehydes are used in aerosol products and air fresheners.

To lower levels of VOCs in the home, follow these steps:. A prominent VOC found in household products and construction products is formaldehyde. According to CPSC [ 40 ] , these products include the glue or adhesive used in pressed wood products; preservatives in paints, coating, and cosmetics; coatings used for permanent-press quality in fabrics and draperies; and the finish on paper products and certain insulation materials.

Formaldehyde is contained in urea-formaldehyde UF foam insulation installed in the wall cavities of homes as an energy conservation measure. Levels of formaldehyde increase soon after installation of this product, but these levels decline with time. The courts overturned the ban; however, the publicity has decreased the use of this product. More recently, the most significant source of formaldehyde in homes has been pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain UF resins [ 41 ].

The most significant of these is medium-density fiberboard, which contains a higher resin-to-wood ratio than any other UF pressed wood product. This product is generally recognized as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product. Additional pressed wood products are produced using phenol-formaldehyde resin. The latter type of resin generally emits formaldehyde at a considerably slower rate than those containing UF resin. The emission rate for both resins will change over time and will be influenced by high indoor temperatures and humidity.

Since , U. This limit was to ensure that indoor formaldehyde levels are below 0. CPSC [ 40 ] notes that formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas. At an air level above 0. Laboratory animal studies have revealed that formaldehyde can cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. Formaldehyde is usually present at levels less than 0. Indoor areas that contain products that release formaldehyde can have levels greater than 0.

CPSC also recommends the following actions to avoid high levels of exposure to formaldehyde:. Radon According to the EPA [ 43 ] , radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in soil and rock and is a decay product of uranium.

Geological Survey USGS [ 44 ] notes that the typical uranium content of rock and the surrounding soil is between 1 and 3 ppm. Higher levels of uranium are often contained in rock such as light-colored volcanic rock, granite, dark shale, and sedimentary rock containing phosphate.

Uranium levels as high as ppm may be present in various areas of the United States because of these rocks. The main source of high-level radon pollution in buildings is surrounding uranium-containing soil. Thus, the greater the level of uranium nearby, the greater the chances are that buildings in the area will have high levels of indoor radon.

A free video is available from the U. Radon, according to the California Geological Survey [ 45 ] , is one of the intermediate radioactive elements formed during the radioactive decay of uranium, uranium, or thorium Radon is the radon isotope of most concern to public health because of its longer half-life 3. The mobility of radon gas is much greater than are uranium and radium, which are solids at room temperature. Thus, radon can leave rocks and soil, move through fractures and pore spaces, and ultimately enter a building to collect in high concentrations.

When in water, radon moves less than 1 inch before it decays, compared to 6 feet or more in dry rocks or soil. USGS [ 44 ] notes that radon near the surface of soil typically escapes into the atmosphere. However, where a house is present, soil air often flows toward the house foundation because of. Houses are often constructed with loose fill under a basement slab and between the walls and exterior ground. This fill is more permeable than the original ground.

USGS [ 44 ] states that radon may also enter the home through the water systems. Surface water sources typically contain little radon because it escapes into the air. In larger cities, radon is released to the air by municipal processing systems that aerate the water. However, in areas where groundwater is the main water supply for communities, small public systems and private wells are typically closed systems that do not allow radon to escape.

Radon then enters the indoor air from showers, clothes washing, dishwashing, and other uses of water. These progeny enter the lungs, attach themselves, and may eventually lead to lung cancer. This exposure to radon is believed to contribute to between 15, and 21, excess lung cancer deaths in the United States each year. The EPA has identified levels greater than 4 picocuries per liter as levels at which remedial action should be taken.

Approximately 1 in 15 homes nationwide have radon above this level, according to the U. Smokers are at significantly higher risk for radon-related lung cancer. Radon in the home can be measured either by the occupant or by a professional. Because radon has no odor or color, special devices are used to measure its presence.

Radon levels vary from day to day and season to season. Short-term tests 2 to 90 days are best if quick results are needed, but long-term tests more than 3 months yield better information on average year-round exposure. Measurement devices are routinely placed in the lowest occupied level of the home.

The devices either measure the radon gas directly or the daughter products. The simplest devices are passive, require no electricity, and include a charcoal canister, charcoal liquid scintillation device, alpha tract detector, and electret ion detectors [ 47 ]. All of these devices, with the exception of the ion detector, can be purchased in hardware stores or by mail. The ion detector generally is only available through laboratories. These devices are inexpensive, primarily used for short-term testing, and require little to no training.

Active devices, however, need electrical power and include continuous monitoring devices. They are customarily more expensive and require professionally trained testers for their operation.

After testing and evaluation by a professional, it may be necessary to lower the radon levels in the structure. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection [ 48 ] states that in most cases, a system with pipes and a fan is used to reduce radon. This system, known as a subslab depressurization system, requires no major changes to the home.

The typical mitigation system usually has only one pipe penetrating through the basement floor; the pipe also may be installed outside the house. The Connecticut Department of Public Health [ 49 ] notes that it is more cost effective to include radon-resistant techniques while constructing a building than to install a reduction system in an existing home. These features create a physical barrier to radon entry. The vent pipe redirects the flow of air under the foundation, preventing radon from seeping into the house.

Pesticides Much pesticide use could be reduced if integrated pest management IPM practices were used in the home. IPM is a coordinated approach to managing roaches, rodents, mosquitoes, and other pests that integrates inspection, monitoring, treatment, and evaluation, with special emphasis on the decreased use of toxic agents. However, all pest management options, including natural, biologic, cultural, and chemical methods, should be considered.

Those that have the least impact on health and the environment should be selected. Most household pests can be controlled by eliminating the habitat for the pest both inside and outside, building or screening them out, eliminating food and harborage areas, and safely using appropriate pesticides if necessary.

Measurable levels of up to a dozen pesticides have been found in the air inside homes. Pesticides used in and around the home include products to control insects insecticides , termites termiticides , rodents rodenticides , fungi fungicides , and microbes disinfectants. These products are found in sprays, sticks, powders, crystals, balls, and foggers. Delaplane [ 52 ] notes that the ancient Romans killed insect pests by burning sulfur and controlled weeds with salt. In the s, ants were controlled with mixtures of honey and arsenic.

A significant factor with regard to these pesticides used in and around the home is their impact on children. This is within easy reach of children. The EPA [ 53 ] notes a report by the American Association of Poison Control Centers indicating that approximately 79, children were involved in common household pesticide poisonings or exposures.

The health effects of pesticides vary with the product. However, local effects from most of the products will be on eyes, noses, and throats; more severe consequences, such as on the central nervous system and kidneys and on cancer risks, are possible. The active and inert ingredients of pesticides can be organic compounds, which can contribute to the level of organic compounds in indoor air. More significantly, products containing cyclodiene pesticides have been commonly associated with misapplication.

Individuals inadvertently exposed during this misapplication had numerous symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, muscle twitching, weakness, tingling sensations, and nausea. In addition, there is concern that these pesticides may cause long-term damage to the liver and the central nervous system, as well as an increased cancer risk. Cyclodiene pesticides were developed for use as insecticides in the s and s.

The four main cyclodiene pesticides—aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, and heptachlor—were used to guard soil and seed against insect infestation and to control insect pests in crops. Outside of agriculture they were used for ant control; farm, industrial, and domestic control of fleas, flies, lice, and mites; locust control; termite control in buildings, fences, and power poles; and pest control in home gardens.

No other commercial use is permitted for cyclodiene or related products. The only exception is the use of heptachlor by utility companies to control fire ants in underground cable boxes.

An EPA survey [ 53 ] revealed that bathrooms and kitchens are areas in the home most likely to have improperly stored pesticides. This type of packaging is designed to prevent or delay access by most children under the age of 5 years. EPA offers the following recommendations for preventing accidental poisoning:.

Toxic Materials. Asbestos is a mineral fiber of which there are several types: amosite, crocidiolite, tremolite, actinolite, anthrophyllite, and chrysotile. Chrysotile asbestos, also known as white asbestos, is the predominant commercial form of asbestos.

Asbestos is strong, flexible, resistant to heat and chemical corrosion, and insulates well. These features led to the use of asbestos in up to 3, consumer products before government agencies began to phase it out in the s because of its health hazards. Asbestos has been used in insulation, roofing, siding, vinyl floor tiles, fireproofing materials, texturized paint and soundproofing materials, heating appliances such as clothes dryers and ovens , fireproof gloves, and ironing boards.

Asbestos continues to be used in some products, such as brake pads. Other mineral products, such as talc and vermiculite, can be contaminated with asbestos.

The health effects of asbestos exposure are numerous and varied. Industrial studies of workers exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards have revealed three primary health risk concerns from breathing high levels of asbestos fibers: lung cancer, mesothelioma a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity , and asbestosis a condition in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.

The risk for all of these conditions is amplified as the number of fibers inhaled increases. Smoking also enhances the risk for lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers by acting synergistically.

The incubation period from time of exposure to appearance of symptoms of these diseases is usually about 20 to 30 years. Individuals who develop asbestosis have typically been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. Exposure levels to asbestos are measured in fibers per cubic centimeter of air. Most individuals are exposed to small amounts of asbestos in daily living activities; however, a preponderance of them do not develop health problems.

These factors include the dose how much , the duration how long , and the fiber type mineral form and distribution.