help i was exposed to asbestos dust

I was exposed to asbestos dust when contractor improperly removed insulation from heating pipes in a basement during renovation.  There was dust all over the place, and I watched them do it for 1 hr a day for 7 days totals of 7hrs in one week without any protection.  Am i going to get an asbestos related disease from this short term exposure.  I have been worried sick and developed anxiety because of this.  

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, asbestos mainly constitutes hydrated magnesium silicates. In types of fibres, Chrysotile accounts for over 90 percent of the asbestos (you might have inhaled). The Asbestosis is usually seen with long term exposure i.e. 10-20 years and depends on degree of exposure.

The earliest symptom of asbestosis is usually the insidious onset of breathlessness with exertion. Cough, sputum production, and wheezing are unusual. Watch for these symptoms.

I think you are worrying unnecessarily; short term exposure will not have much adverse effects as body's own mechanism (tissue macrophages) helps to tackle the asbestos dust. If you are having any of the above complaints then you can consult respiratory physician. You need to wear mask to prevent further exposure. Take care and regards.

[caregiver222]

You are worried unnecessarily. As Dr Rajput states, the body rejects antigens (non-self substances) through very sophisticated and effective mechanisms. It is only when the amount of foreign matter exceeds the capacity to tackle the antigen that problems develop. The problems with asbestos are common to all fine dust, including stone, dust from grain mills and cotton manufacturing. The danger from asbestos is completely overblown. There is a radio commercial from a firm of attorneys that really is frightening....and overly dramatic.  Decades ago it was commonly used in everything from model building for children (mountains on model train sets,. which I used) and inside welder's helmets (which we used in high-school welding class). Millions of people have been exposed to occasional inhalation of asbestos with no ill effects whatsoever.

[john3389]

I also wanted to add that I found out it was aircell asbestos pipe wrapping which contained 50 percent asbestos and the pipes were 40 ft in total length.  It was taken off improperly creating a lot of dust.