possible single asbestos exposure, 3 years ago

[knicks10]

Was in an old, abanoned house from the 80's helping a friend who owned it move some things, take photos (no work/moving dust w/work). To be safe before hand (didn't know until recently, cofirmed all the peeling walls a debris in the hosue did have asbestos, horrible shape inside), I put on 1 cheap, home depot masks on top of each other (w/o the respirators). No other protection.
1) Assuming I was in a condemned, asbestos-containing, walls and such-peeling home for approximately 2-4 hours (in and out), is that enough to be extremely worried about lung cancer/mesothelioma? I know meso is more rare, but a single exposure (albeit that "intense", wasn't bothered at time/still no problems) is that something CERTAIN to put me at a major risk (on par with something like a career in shipbuilding or asbestos removal)?
2) I am a 24 year old, male non-smoker (never touched a cigarette), nothing bothering me since incident aside from one case of pneumonia a few months back)...should I essentially take this as a "single exposure" and move on with my life? Does stuff like this (or exposure through home renovation like this) happen to people often w/cancer and major diseases not occurring? Can I essentially "not worry" (know there is
NO way to predict that for sure, but what are thoughts about a single exposure for a few hours wearing only a home depot masks (not w/ a resprator or anything like that)...is that common/possible to be experuencing probelms, or comparable to environmental exposure?had no short term problems/irritation even at event, is long term guranateed problems? Are asbestos problems more a long term problem, my single exposure for a few hours only increase risk slightly? Best estimate how much, how worried should I be for future? Put out of mind, get routine x-rays/consult a pulmonologist even though no problems/feel fine ever since? Thanks.

[knicks10]

Thanks so much for your response. I am going to try and do as you said (from my post) and essentially "not worry" (try to put it out of my mind the best I can). With that said, just had a final question regarding the situation. There was certainly "dust" and contamination In the air, and as I outlined was wearing a suboptimal mask...this still (even w/seeing the dust/poor air quality, poor quality mask) would still be cateforized as a "mild" exposure (thereby putting me at a relatively low risk for problems in the future)...do you see a lot of cases w/people in even worse situations/expsoure who do not experience health problems (that mine is really not a MAJOR threat?). Additionally, wanted your opinion if I should be going for ongoing x-ray screenings, annual pulmonologist appointments in the absence of any symptoms (merely preventative) or would that be overkill given my exposure/situation...really just truly forget about it, move on and not worry about it as long as I don't experience any changes in my health/respiratory status?

Again, thank you very much for your time and help, that concludes all of the questions I had for you in regard to my situation. Take care

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

Obviously it is not possible to quantify your exposure but, although the masks you wore were less than optimum, wearing may have been very important in reducing the total amount of asbestos fibers inhaled and that in turn would mean a reduction in lung damage, both acute and chronic.  As inhaled materials go, asbestos fibers are large and the masks may have been effective.  Of all lung diseases, asbestosis has one of the longest latent period, in some instances symptoms and  X-ray changes not developing until 20 or more years after exposure.

Nevertheless, the history suggests that you are probably at very low risk of developing asbestos lung or a mesothelioma, given what was probably a truly minimal exposure, a much greater acute exposure or a sustained low level of exposure over many years required to cause those problems.  Being a never-smoker is very much in your favor, as the development of chronic lung disease is significantly influenced by the total amount of irritants to which one’s lungs are exposed in the course of a lifetime.  With this in mind, you should never smoke or allow yourself to be chronically exposed to passive cigarette smoke; you should not engage in any occupation that exposes you to smoke, dust, fumes of any kind and you should seek to live in an area of low air pollution.

Finally, to use your words, I strongly believe that you can, “essentially not worry.”

Good luck

[knicks10]

correction also...house was much older than 80's, there has just been no one living there since the 80's, and that is how run down it is. was a complete mess inside w/dust, mold, you name it on the inside...but as pointed out, had no irritation/problems ever since (even to today)...just now nervous when I was told by a friend, "the home depot masks won't have prevented you from developing cancer or mesothelioma even for a few hours"...wanted to get your opinion and if I should see a pulmonologist.

Should also add, have only had pneumonia once/been sick in past few years, had a chest x-ray which came back as pneumonia, nothing else abnormal (didn't even menton to doctor as it wasn't on my mind at the time...only recently nervous about it).

Thanks again.