Sunday, May 23, 2010

Tips To Prevent Mesothelioma - Prevention Asbestos At Home By Nathalie Fiset Platinum Quality Author

Did you know that mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure can be prevented at home?

Mesothelioma is an illness characterized by scattered pulmonary fibrosis from the infiltration of asbestos dust into the lungs. Current laws restrict the use of asbestos, but many industries used it in the past. Therefore, exposure occurred, and may still occur, in various jobs, comprising of manufacturing and mining of asbestos, shipbuilding, demolition of structures containing asbestos, and roofing. Materials such as cement, clothing brake linings, vinyl asbestos tile, shingles, and fireproof paint, and filters all contained asbestos at one time, and many of these materials are still in existence. Additional diseases related to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis, and asbestos pleural effusion.

What is Mesothelioma?

Inhaled asbestos dust enters the body and sticks to the lungs. The common affected area is the mesothelium or the protective sheet that covers the internal organs in the lungs. Mesothelium is located in the chest cavity and the lungs known as pleura.

Asbestos dust triggers the abnormal activity of the mesothelium. They also propagate without control. The onset of the disease is subtle, and the patient has persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain brought about by the buildup of fluid in the pleura, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

In the case of mesothelioma, cancer cells can metastasize or undergo the process of metastasis. This is the dissemination or spread of malignant cells from the pulmonary tumor to distant sites by direct spread of tumor cells to body cavities or through lymphatic and blood circulation.

Frequency Cases

Statistical reports show that more than 2,000 Americans are affected with mesothelioma every year. However, even if most cases occur at work, many are still affected right at their own home. This does not necessarily mean homeowners use asbestos at home. Surveys reveal that cases of mesothelioma at home are commonly caused by asbestos dust brought at home.

People who work at industrial companies or construction sites, or simply those who have been inadvertently exposed to asbestos may unconsciously bring asbestos dust at home. Asbestos dust may stick to clothes, hair, skin, cars, or even in their tools. Hence, to avoid Mesothelioma, learn the prevention asbestos at home tips.

Here's how:

1. Learn to recognize asbestos

The problem with most people who get sick with mesothelioma, even if they are not working in an industrial company or construction field, is that they do not know how to recognize asbestos or asbestos-containing products right at their own home.

The government has already passed laws and is now implementing full restrictions and control on the use of asbestos in home products. Asbestos containing products are considered as one of the primary factors for developing mesothelioma.

Hence, if you are planning to buy tools for your home, try to check if they contain asbestos. Some of the products that normally contain asbestos are floor adhesives, door gaskets, boilers, furnace ducts, vinyl floor tiles, textured paint, fireproof gloves, asbestos cement roofing, etc.

2. Buy quality materials

The use of asbestos cannot simply be ignored considering the fact that they have high resistance to fire. However, it is best that you check on the quality of the asbestos containing product you are about to buy. Low quality or damaged products may tend to emit asbestos dust, which can infiltrate your lungs and may develop mesothelioma.

3. Dispose asbestos dust before going home

Workers at an asbestos infested environment must try to eliminate any signs of asbestos dust from his clothing or tools. Before going home, it is best that the employee must take a bath thoroughly and wash his clothes carefully to eradicate asbestos dust.

4. Be wary on floors that contain asbestos

If you have used asbestos containing products in your home, such as the flooring, it is best not to wax or brush the floor. Brushing or waxing the asbestos containing flooring may discharge "microscopic fibers" into the air, increasing the risk of inhaling asbestos dust.

5. Do not sweep suspected asbestos dust

If you think you are about to sweep asbestos dust, leave it alone. Dust particles may only infiltrate the lungs once inhaled. This can be prevented by leaving asbestos dust alone. Do not let them fly into the air.

Prevention is better than cure. Hence, to avoid mesothelioma, it is best to learn the prevention asbestos at home tips and start a life away from health hazard.

For more information on mesothelioma and lung cancer, please go to:
http://mymesotheliomacancer.com/?page_id=620
http://mymesotheliomacancer.com
http://www.drnathaliefiset.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset

A Tragic History - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer By Joe Belluck

Many asbestos cancer experts, attorneys, and mesothelioma sufferers view asbestos as a material developed and used only in the 19th century. But in fact, asbestos was first discovered and named by the ancient Greeks. In this article, we will examine the facts of asbestos use throughout the ages. We will see what was known about the dangers of asbestos cancer, and when mesothelioma and asbestosis began to be recognized as the tragic illnesses they are known to be today.

Asbestos And Mesothelioma: From The Ancient World To The 21st Century

In ancient Rome, asbestos fibers were uses to make clothing flame retardant. In Greece, the fibers were used to make other textiles. In Persia, garments were prized for their ability to be cleaned over a fire, instead of with water. In China, Marco Polo describes similar items that were "washed" by being dropped into flames. These clothes could only have been made from asbestos. After the fall of the Roman Empire and the fade of the great empires of the east, the use of asbestos seemed to stop.

As of 1860, asbestos had appeared again across the United States and Canada, mostly used as insulation within buildings. In 1879, the first commercial asbestos mine appeared in Canada, just outside of Quebec. By the turn of the century, asbestos use was much more common: flame-resistant coatings, concrete, flooring, roofing, acid resistant materials, and lawn furniture all had asbestos components.

With the rise of asbestos use came the first recorded death as a result of mesothelioma asbestos cancer. In 1906, an asbestos miner died of asbestos cancer, but his cause of death was not established until later. However, further instances of mesothelioma -- still diagnosed as an unknown lung disorder -- were observed throughout the early 20th century, particularly in asbestos mining towns.

Libby, Montana is a modern example of a mining town contaminated with asbestos. The EPA has been attempting to clean up Libby for 10 years, but 200 people thus far have died from asbestos exposure, with over 1,000 sickened. The town was contaminated by a nearby vermiculite mine, its residents threatened by waste products and discarded materials from mining operations.

The town of Libby has been stricken by asbestos contamination despite modern day interventions. In the early days, before mesothelioma was recognized or asbestos poisoning considered, towns were even more dramatically impacted. Yet even now, when the dangers of asbestos, as well as its links with mesothelioma, are clear, company negligence still goes unpunished. The company responsible for the mine that contaminated Libby was recently acquitted in a trial centered around the deaths in the town. The mining company will face no penalty, despite the hundreds of asbestos poisoning deaths and thousands of asbestos-related illnesses in Libby.

The First Diagnosis Of Asbestos Cancer, Asbestosis, And Mesothelioma

In 1924, a doctor in England recognized the pattern of illness and made the first diagnosis of asbestos cancer. At the time, it was called asbestosis and the existence of mesothelioma remained unknown. Nonetheless, the initial diagnosis created a wave of laws about asbestos handling -- at least in England. The United Kingdom began regulating ventilation and established asbestosis as an "excusable work related disease" in the 1930s. The United States did not take the same measures until nearly 10 years later.

Around 1930, the medical community was beginning to investigate mesothelioma, at that time a new disease with strange symptoms and little information. They could only observe the symptoms: coughing, shortness of breath, and generalized chest/lung pain. Mesothelioma was not connected to asbestos nor suggested as asbestos cancer until 1940.

What Did Companies Know About The Hazards Of Asbestos Exposure?

The basis of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer legislation is that many asbestos companies knew the material was dangerous, but did not protect workers and customers from these known dangers. Court documents have shown that companies began to learn about asbestos related health hazards as early as 1930, but despite this knowledge, they did nothing to keep workers or consumers safe. Instead, they allowed asbestos use to grow even as diagnoses of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer grew as well.

Although limited through a lawsuit, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule in 1989 that allows only trace amounts of asbestos to appear in modern building materials. Even though lingering asbestos contamination remains and threatens citizens, the modern world now recognizes the dangers of asbestos and no longer uses it as a primary material.

The Dangers Of Natural Asbestos

Although asbestos exposure occurs most commonly through contact with asbestos mines or products made from asbestos, there are also a shockingly large number of so-called asbestos "occurrences" throughout the U.S. These sites are not commonly monitored by the EPA, nor has much been done to clean them up or protect surrounding communities.

An asbestos "occurrence" is defined as a place where asbestos has been observed, but not mined or prospected for mining. These veins of asbestos can be shallow enough that asbestos dust rises into the air, making the name "occurrences" misleading - they're more like "hazards." There are 205 such documented occurrences throughout the eastern part of the U.S., and most of these have been discovered through anecdotal evidence rather than active surveys. The government has helped to clean up commercial asbestos use, but they have done little to control the dangers of exposure to the material in its natural state. Even when not manufactured or milled, asbestos and its fibers can cause mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, asbestos poisoning, and all the other horrific conditions that can result from the disease.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer Today

Although asbestos has been regulated for 20 years, mesothelioma lawsuits are still being filed today because of the long incubation period of the disease. The cancer frequently requires 20-50 years between exposure and the manifestation of symptoms, meaning that many workers who handled asbestos during the height of its use are only just starting to show symptoms. Sadly, the numbers of lawsuits are only expected to increase. Asbestos cancer is tragic, and has been tragic throughout history. But today we can fight back against the companies that failed to protect us, and we can know that the world is safer for our children.

Joe Belluck is a top malignant mesothelioma attorney and founder of mesothelioma law firm Belluck & Fox, LLP. He has worked on hundreds of asbestos cancer lawsuits.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Belluck

Asbestos Mesothelioma Risk - The Silent Killer Stalking in Your Vicinity? By Pieter Pepler

What are the asbestos risk factors? Mesothelioma cancer statistics indicate that specific environments, industries and jobs have a higher mesothelioma risk. The risk of getting cancer from asbestos is very real.

A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting the diagnosis: malignant mesothelioma. But having a risk factor, or even several asbestos disease risk factors, does not mean that you will develop mesothelioma lung cancer.

Exposure to asbestos is the main risk factor for developing mesothelioma injury. This injury could develop into full fledged mesothelioma lung cancer.

So, what are the risk asbestos factors? And how do we manage the risk of asbestos exposure?

Mesothelioma Statistics

Mesothelioma statistics reveal that 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma cases annually receive the diagnosis: malignant mesothelioma. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of all cases of mesothelioma are found to be the direct result of asbestos exposure.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as many as a three quarter million schools and public buildings in the country today contain asbestos insulation. These were built before new asbestos mesothelioma law started to constrain the use of asbestos early in the 1970s. Asbestos insulation may be found in as many as 10% to 15% of schools in the United States.

Industrial Risk

What is the industrial asbestos risk of your work place? The mesothelioma risk attached to various industries can be plotted on a continuum: from high industrial risk - to the least risk.

Firstly, you must identify asbestos content inherent to your building, equipment, raw materials or products. Then compare this information with mesothelioma statistics for your industry.

Environmental Risk

What is the asbestos risk of your environment? Asbestos minerals are widespread in the global environment.

Asbestos risk may occur in large natural deposits, or as contaminants in other minerals and products. If you are exposed to asbestos, many factors determine asbestos exposure risk and potential asbestos related diseases.

These factors include the how much, how long, the mineral form and size distribution, and how you come in contact with it. Studies have shown that smokers are more prone to asbestos disease than non-smokers.

Does the Silent Killer stalk your work place? The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) place the duty on employers to identify and assess occupational asbestos risk.

Asbestos Disease Risk

Asbestos disease risk, is the risk of serious disease after inhaling asbestos dust. In industry, they separate and process asbestos fibers into new compounds and textures, forming a microscopic dust.

If inhaled, it can collect in the lungs, stomach or other organs and eventually lead to the development of serious, life threatening asbestos diseases. A mesothelioma prognosis is almost never favourable.

Asbestos Products Risk

Asbestos products risk? The Silent Killer Stalking? The risk of mesothelioma lung cancer from asbestos insulation, asbestos siding, asbestos tile, asbestos flooring, and a host of other products exist everywhere around us.

Asbestos was not only cheap to buy, but it is also pliable and sometimes, soft like cotton. Some forms of asbestos fibers have cloth-like qualities.

Asbestos fibers can therefore be easily woven into fireproof protection apparel for rescue officials and firefighters. Items for other professionals and workers, who are exposed to high heat, are also manufactured, creating asbestos products risk.

Its industrial properties was in strong demand during the industrial revolution. An estimated 4,000 products made during the 1900s contained asbestos fibers

Asbestos Risk Assessment

You need specialist advisors to perform an asbestos risk assessment in managing and preventing mesothelioma injury. Their asbestos testing protocol and results are also invaluable for mesothelioma research projects.

All entries in a company's asbestos register become vital in the event that you receive a call from an asbestos lawyer who works on a mesothelioma claim.

City and town management are increasingly being held responsible for asbestos exposure in the areas under their management.

It is expected that the focus in this regard will soon expand to seaside venues. Asbestos used to be the building material of choice close to the oceans.

Asbestos Risk Management

Asbestos risk management is the legal responsibility of every manager or owner of a business, or landlord. Asbestos mesothelioma law is clear i.t.o. management's responsibility.

There is an increased global effort to minimise asbestos exposure, cut down on mesothelioma injury and asbestosis mesothelioma.

This was driven in part by the large asbestos settlements granted in mesothelioma lawsuits.

Early in the 1970s we saw the first drafts of mesothelioma cancer law accepted by various regulating bodies of developed countries internationally.

However in a country like South Africa, laws were only made in 2008 to finally control the mining and manufacturing of asbestos products.

Most asbestos products are reasonably safe if it is kept undisturbed, painted and well maintained. However, most people will be surprised to notice the large number of asbestos products in their living and work environments, that are poorly maintained.

Pieter Pepler is a management consultant to small and medium enterpises. He has a keen interest in in health aspects and spends much of his time researching and writing about the causes and alternative treatment options for the natural treatment of various chronic diseases.

His work on asbestos mesothelioma risk and related research is published on his Mesothelioma-Junction.com [http://www.diagnosis-malignant-mesothelioma-prognosis-claims-settlement.com] website.

Pieter has also done an asbestos picture study of asbestos in a popular seaside holiday destination, entitled: A Silent Killer Stalking Your Favorite Beach Destination?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pieter_Pepler

What is the definition of asbestos?



Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber mined from the earth. It is strong, flexible, and resistant to heat, chemicals and electrical conditions. They occur in two groups. The serpentine group includes white (chrysotile) asbestos. The amphibole group includes brown (amosite) and blue (crocidolite) asbestos.
'Bonded' is a type of asbestos which is firmly embedded in a material that these materials are unlikely to release measurable levels of asbestos fiber into the air if they are left undisturbed. Therefore, they generally pose a lower risk to health. Example of bonded asbestos-containing materials include asbestos cement products (flat and corrugated sheeting used in walls, ceilings and roofs, molded items such as down pipes), vinyl floor coverings.

Another type of asbestos is Friable. Friable is used to refer to asbestos-containing materials that can be easily reduced to powder by hand, when dry. These materials are more likely to release measurable levels of asbestos into the air when disturbed, and generally pose a greater risk to health. Friable asbestos-containing materials include sprayed asbestos fire retardants