We are all aware of the terrible consequences asbestos exposure may have on our health.
The lethal substance’s minuscule fibres stick to the lining of our lungs and spread throughout our bodies when we breathe them in, producing inflammation that results in cellular abnormalities and malignancies.
Despite asbestos and its negative health effects being discussed for years already, asbestos and its dangers are still around, and anyone can be exposed to them and hurt.
So, what are the potential impacts of asbestos on a pregnant woman’s and her unborn child’s health if she worked with asbestos or was exposed to it while doing house renovations?
It is improbable that growing fetuses and newborns would come into contact with asbestos through their mother’s breast milk or the placenta while she was pregnant.
Even though this statement could seem encouraging in some respects, caution should always be exercised when drawing any firm conclusions.
Some intriguing research results have also been discovered in the Australian town of Wittenoom, a former mining town. Women and girls from the former asbestos mining hub took part in a study that revealed some clear connections to the possible risks of asbestos exposure to unborn children, according to a report from pubmed.gov.au.
According to the research, asbestos fibres had been discovered in women’s lungs, ovaries, pleural, and peritoneal mesothelium. The placental digests of both live and stillborn babies have also been shown to contain asbestos fibres. This “cluster of gestational trophoblastic disorders has some biological plausibility for asbestos causation,” according to the conclusion reached.
The fact that asbestos fibres have been discovered in the placental digests of both live and stillborn newborns is enough to warrant alarm, even though these studies simply demonstrate the possibility of asbestos causation.
A substance must enter the mother’s bloodstream first before it may proceed into her breast milk. Although technically possible, asbestos only very rarely enters the blood. Animal studies’ findings likewise do not suggest that asbestos exposure is likely to cause any birth problems.
Asbestos exposure can happen to women either directly or indirectly. Women who work in fields including manufacturing, construction, firefighting, auto repair, and manufacturing are prone to direct exposure of asbestos. Additionally, if inadequate care is taken when renovating an older property that contains asbestos, they may be exposed directly throughout the process.
On the other hand, pregnant women can be indirectly exposed to asbestos because the fibres are so tiny and hard to see that they may be brought home by a family member or household member and then inhaled by a pregnant lady at home.
Although it’s still unclear whether exposure to asbestos during pregnancy could have a direct impact on the unborn kid, whatever health issues the mother deals with unintentionally affects the child.
The effects on the unborn child’s health of an expectant mother who has lung or respiratory problems or disease could potentially be substantial. For instance, the baby can be at danger of not getting enough oxygen for proper growth if the mother has breathing problems. The digestive issues alone could have a severe effect on the amount of nutrition the fetus obtains if a pregnant lady develops malignancies in her stomach and abdomen.
The good news is that the overall finding indicates that there are very few indicators that asbestos exposure will have a negative influence on the health of an unborn child. Nonetheless, extreme caution must always be exercised because it hasn’t been completely ruled out either. As mentioned above, the effects of a mother’s asbestos-related illness can be severe for a child both during prenatal development and after birth.
When working with this dangerous and hazardous material, everyone should be sure to seek the advice of knowledgeable asbestos contractors and avoid it at all costs, but notably pregnant women and those who already have respiratory illnesses or conditions. Additionally, keep in mind that due to the potential presence of asbestos, any improvements to homes built prior to the year 1980 should be undertaken with great caution. Contact Asbestos Australia Removalists for more information on how your home or office area could potentially contain asbestos and what precautionary measures you can take to protect yourself. We offer asbestos testing and removal services in Melbourne and Victoria.
Posted By: Tommy Clappers
Call Us
Leave a Reply