Pleural Plaques Are A Minor Consequence Of Exposure To Asbestos

The pleura is a double-layered membrane that lines the rib cage and surrounds the lungs. Pleural plaques (PP), or fibroses, may develop in response to exposure to asbestos. They are composed mainly of collagen, a fibrous protein. They are not serious, they do not cause symptoms and they do not lead to a more serious lung disease.

These fibrous scars mostly form on the inside of the diaphragm. This is called a parietal pleura. On rare occasions, they may be located near the ribcage.

Before October 2007, it was possible for people who had been diagnosed with PP to claim for compensation in Wales and England. The Law Lords have since ruled that PP is not a serious condition that warrants compensation. The last ever claim was settled there in August 2011. Victims in Scotland, however, may still claim for PP and other diseases resulting from asbestos exposure.

There are other undesirable consequences of asbestos exposure apart from PP. Some of them can be very serious. These include asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

When the body attempts to dissolve asbestos fibers, it may cause scarring called asbestos. It is progressive and may be serious enough to cause the lungs to stop functioning. Asbestosis may form up to ten or twenty years following exposure to the fibers.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer of the pleura, the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) or the pericardium, the membranous sac lining the heart. It may take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to develop. Once diagnosed, most patients die within twelve months. Unlike some cancers of the lung, there is no association between smoking and mesothelioma. It can only develop as the result of exposure to asbestos or similar fibers. Cancers of the lung, kidneys, larynx and gastrointestinal tract may also be the result of exposure to asbestos. These cancers may take between 15 and 30 years to develop.

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