Asbestos in the Home - Mesothelioma Cancer

Asbestos is one of the world?s oldest known and most versatile building and construction materials. The Ancient Greeks and Romans wove the fibrous strands of asbestos into clothing, and used larger amounts of the heat-and-flame-resistant material in their numerous metalworking and ceramic processes, which many eminent historians believe directly contributed to their rise to world dominance. Unfortunately, ancient scholars noted that the slaves and workers exposed to asbestos tended to die of breathing difficulties relatively early for a time when 40 years old was considered elderly.

Flash forward 3,000 years, and the industrial processes that fueled the empires of Greece and Rome have been updated to the large scale production means of the tail end of the Industrial Revolution of Western Europe and the United States. Asbestos was used on a wide scale in virtually any product that needed to endure heat, or any product that needs a strong, flexible, and durable material. The asbestos industry was not ignorant of the learning of millennia past; rather they chose to ignore the problems their workers or the public might have.

After the Second World War asbestos soon made its way into virtually every building in the United States. And why not? According the asbestos industry, it was extremely versatile and lacked any appreciable dangers and risks. Children played in the quarries where it was mined, millions of new homeowners requested it for insulation in their new houses, and hundreds of thousands of war workers could look back in pride that the asbestos they installed into ships, planes, and other vessels helped save countless lives during the fight against Japan and Germany.

Unfortunately, the truth about asbestos soon became clear. Vermiculite, a type of asbestos found in millions of homes across the country as a soil additive, insulation, packing material, plaster, and concrete was discovered to be a dangerous and potentially deadly material. Other types of asbestos soon became targeted by health experts, but it would take a few more decades to discover the real truth about asbestos: that the industry was making billions of dollars without regard to the health or safety of the people exposed to it.

Now, these same people are fighting back against the same companies who put their profits ahead of innocent people?s lives. Thousands of new asbestos lawsuits are filed each year, and the average verdict or settlement for a mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer case usually ranges from $750,000 and $8 million. People once injured by these callous and uncaring companies are now fighting for their rights.

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Asbestos Attorneys Online

There are a multitude of websites dedicated to asbestos-related lawsuits. They provide information such as how to file an asbestos case. These websites even help you find good asbestos attorneys. It is easy to find asbestos attorneys online, as almost all good attorneys list themselves in various websites. Many law firms also boast their own websites. Attorneys who do not have their own websites usually register with a bar association website.

There are numerous websites dedicated solely to law and related issues. These websites contain online resources such as articles related to asbestos lawsuits. Online resources also tell you where to find a good asbestos attorney, how to approach him, and what points to discuss in the initial consultation. Additionally, there are online articles related to asbestos-related ailments such as mesothelioma and the medical costs involved in treating them. Private websites that are owned by law firms and attorneys contain information on previous lawsuits handled by them. They tell you the case histories and the compensation amount won in each of those cases. Well-qualified and experienced asbestos attorneys usually have a good track record of winning large compensation amounts for their clients. These compensation amounts, usually to the tune of millions, are displayed on these websites to attract more clients.

Most law-based websites feature online search tools to find asbestos attorneys. Asbestos victims usually prefer attorneys from their own states, so, websites provide online searches that can be narrowed down to a state, county, or city. Websites belonging to bar associations generally maintain databases containing information about their members. They also give information on attorneys' success rates.

Asbestos Attorneys provides detailed information on Asbestos Attorneys, Asbestos Cancer Attorneys, Asbestos Litigation Attourneys, Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys and more. Asbestos Attorneys is affiliated with Asbestos Trial Lawyers

Is There Early Detection For Asbestos Cancer?

Asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America beginning in the late 1800s. Its use increased greatly during World War II. Since then, it has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industry has used it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steampipes, and hot water pipes.

A simple blood test could detect early signs of deadly 'asbestos cancer', scientists have claimed. Patients with mesothelioma - often caused by exposure to asbestos - often die within a few years of diagnosis.

About three-fourths of mesothelioma occurrences start in the chest cavity and is known as pleural mesothelioma. Another 10% to 20% begin in the abdomen and is called peritoneal mesothelioma.

In a study published in The Lancet, researchers say checking levels of a key protein can identify over 80% of cases at an early stage.

Researchers from the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia, developed a test to assess blood concentrations of soluble mesothelian related (SMR) protein, which has been shown to be an indicator of other cancers. The scientists believed high levels of SMR might also be seen in asbestos cancer patients.

The EPA suggested that consumers use vermiculite outdoors or in a well-ventilated area; keep vermiculite damp while using it; avoid bringing dust from vermiculite use into the home on clothing; and use premixed potting soil, which is less likely to generate dust.

Malignant mesothelioma is divided into three main types. About 50% to 70% of mesothelioma occurrences are the epithelioid type. This type has the best prognosis. The other two types are the sarcomatoid type (7%-20%), and the mixed/biphasic type (20%-35%). Treatment options for all three types are the same.

Victims who were exposed to asbestos at their workplace are entitled to compensation from government, while those who were exposed by other means can get money under common law.

Mesothelioma is a rare disease that is strongly related to exposure to Asbestos. Find out about Asbestos Hazards at http://www.ewhy.info

Asbestos ? From Miracle Mineral To Mesothelioma Menace

During World War II Asbestos was hailed by many as a miracle mineral. Almost anything could be built or manufactured from this mineral. The building and construction industries used it as an additive to strengthen cement and plastics. Asbestos fibers can be separated into thin threads which do not conduct electricity and are not affected by heat or chemicals.

The four main types of asbestos are: Amosite with brown fibers, Anthophyllite with gray fibers, white Christie, and blue Crocidolite. Chrysotile has curly fibers while the other three have rod like fibers. These fibers break into dust quite easily and drift in the air. They can stick on skin, clothing, and can easily be swallowed or inhaled.

Use of asbestos skyrocketed during World War II. Shipbuilding used asbestos extensively in freighters and support vessels to insulate boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes. Asbestos became the miracle construction material as it was easily obtained, processed, and transported.

After WWII cars used asbestos in break shoes and clutch pads. Asbestos found its way into residential and industrial building materials, water supply, sewage materials, ceiling and floor tiles, and vermiculite garden materials to name a few products.

In the 1970?s the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in several products that could release asbestos fibers into the environment during use, following the discoveries of the health dangers of asbestos dust inhalation. Regulations governing the use of asbestos and concern of public opinion since 1970 have created a significant drop in the use of asbestos in the United States.

In 1989 all new uses of asbestos were banned by the Environmental Protection Agency while any old uses before that year were still permitted. The EPA suggested that schools inspect for damaged asbestos and eliminate any exposure or enclose it in protective barriers. Vermiculite, widely used in horticulture, became a concern of the EPA that recommended outdoor use, limiting the amount of dust used, and keeping vermiculite damp.

Asbestos may create serious health hazards such as coughing, lung damage, shortness of breath, and lung cancer. Most people do not become sick in the early stages of development, but usually need continued exposure, often on jobs such as mining, milling, manufacturing asbestos products, and building construction. Firemen, demolition workers, drywall removers, and any other workers in trades that involve destruction of buildings, ships, and automobiles are also exposed to the hazards and risks of asbestos.

Over a period of years continual exposure to asbestos can cause very serious health problems, such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare type of carcinoma of the membrane that lines numerous cavities of the body, including the lungs, abdomen and heart, and has been associated with exposure to asbestos dust. In mesothelioma, the cells of the mesothelioma metastasize and damage adjacent organs and tissues.

Risk of developing mesothelioma takes a long period of time, often as long as twenty-five or thirty-five years before full blown symptoms appear. Not all workers who have been exposed will develop diseases caused by asbestos, but workers who have been exposed to it may bring fibers on their clothing, hair, shoes, and skin home to their families. To circumvent this risk, most industries require workers to bathe and change their clothing before they leave work.

Many studies have been conducted involving the risks of diseases caused by exposure to asbestos. The results of one such study involving the risks of smoking and exposure to asbestos proved extremely hazardous.

For further information on asbestos, such as risks, research, lawsuits and disease support groups visit:

http://www.asbestos-headquarters.com

Asbestos Related Lung Cancer

For almost a 100 years asbestos was considered to be a surprisingly extraordinary mineral. It was used mostly for insulation in the building industry and woven into most every kind of product that could be manufactured. In the late 1800's it was reported that asbestos could cause severe lung injury to anyone that was exposed to it. Those reports were either ignored or intentionally suppressed. Not until 1931 did the British government start taking action to deal with the possibilities of lung cancer in those who worked with and were exposed to asbestos. In the early 1970's the United States government, following the British, began to document safety rules for handling asbestos. This truly was 50 years to late for many thousands of people who were exposed to asbestos in the environment, the home and especially in the workplace.

The results of exposure to asbestos in the environment and the workplace include pleural plaques, lung scarring, asbestosis, lung cancer and a particularly malignant, more severe cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively related to exposure to asbestos. It's pleura, cancer of the lining around the lungs instead of in the lungs. Even a very short term exposure 10, 20, 30 or more years ago may result in mesothelioma. Smoking increases the risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma dramatically. A patient who was exposed to asbestos that smokes has a 50 to 90 times greater chance of being diagnosed with lung cancer, including mesothelioma than a non-smoker. By contrast, a non-smoker exposed to asbestos has a five times greater chance of being diagnosed.

Asbestos Related lung cancers including Mesothelioma are diagnosed through a coalition of medical history, imaging technologies like x-rays, MRIs and CAT tissue sampling, scans, and biopsy. Those who are known to have been exposed to asbestos should have regular checkups for lung irregularities, as the incubation period between exposure and development of this disease can be as long as 5 decades.

As with any cancer, early diagnosis will give the best chance of recovery. Generally the accepted statistics for patients diagnosed with asbestos related lung cancer or mesothelioma are not good at all. In some cases, a person diagnosed with mesothelioma may be told that he has only 8-12 weeks to live, but there are many extenuating factors that may affect that. Some people in clinical trials that use a multi-treatment approach to treating mesothelioma have approached a 40% five year survival rate - almost as much as those diagnosed with other types of lung cancer.

It seems that the best response to Mesothelioma is an aggressive treatment that combines surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, since mesothelioma is so often diagnosed in the later stages, surgery is not often an option, but there are some encouraging new advances in chemotherapy for treatment.

The first medication specifically to treat mesothelioma was approved by the FDA in February of 2004, Alimta manufactured by Eli Lilly. Alimta showed in clinical trials that in conjunction with another drug frequently used for treatment, cisplatin, improved the life expectancy of people diagnosed with mesothelioma. In a time where new advances are happening almost on a weekly basis, even a few months of extended life can propose hope for a cure.

Carlie Edwards publishes online articles & useful information for Women. For more info visit Resource Tips For a variety of related topics visit Health-And-Beauty-Worx.Com

The History and Link between Asbestos and Mesothelioma

If you have Mesothelioma, you are invariably a victim of asbestos, a material whose danger was known as early as the 1930s. The incidence of mesothelioma showed up even in those who had no occupational exposure, but lived close to a facility, which processes asbestos. This reports soon followed many reports of mesothelioma associated with asbestos exposure from various parts of the world. A few of these patients who developed mesothelioma had occupational exposure to asbestos, at pattern had developed.

It is also to be noted that less than 10% of people who had exposure to asbestos develop mesothelioma. In his report, Dr. Baris had identified 185 cases of erionite/zeolite-related mesothelioma in two areas of Turkey with no local asbestos deposits or industry. Recent reports suggest that a history of asbestos exposure can be obtained only in about 80% cases of mesothelioma. It is clear from these observations and studies that malignant mesothelioma is not uniquely related to asbestos exposure.

Other reports followed linking asbestos to malignant mesothelioma amongst pipe fitters in the USA; other reports followed from around the world. The history of asbestos exposure can be the cause of mesothelioma or asbestosis development. And it was not until 1960 that a link between asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma was documented. Once the asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may cause significant health problems including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Most people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos (fibers). Since then, the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world. This site only provides information about mesothelioma and asbestos, it is not meant to be taken as legal advice.

GET LEGAL HELP REGARDING Asbestos Mesothelioma

Rich C. Perlman For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.legal-help-advice.com

Are asbestos fibers visible to the eye ?

 If you are in the construction business or employed by an industry that uses products containing asbestos, you may wonder Are asbestos fibers visible to the eye? Generally asbestos fibers are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Asbestos becomes dangerous when it has broken down into small fibers and is inhaled. It is nearly impossible to detect the presence of asbestos without taking the material to a lab for testing. A lab technician will put the material under a microscope to search for asbestos fibers. Asbestos does not cause an immediate reaction. It will not cause you to cough, sneeze, or your eyes to water. You cannot see, smell, or taste asbestos. If you skin becomes contaminated with asbestos it will not burn or itch.

Asbestos related diseases have a very long latency period. This is the time frame from when you are first exposed to asbestos until you become ill. Most persons do not become ill for at least ten years after exposure and some not until over forty years later. Asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma are all asbestos related diseases. Asbestosis occurs when asbestos fibers enter the lungs. The body will naturally produce an acid to combat the fibers. However, this acid can cause scarring in the tissue of the lungs and in advanced stages breathing becomes more difficult and painful. Asbestosis was first documented in shipyard workers. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer. If a person smokes and is exposed to asbestos, they have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that has only been linked to asbestos exposure. It is a cancer of the cells that line the peritoneum (area surrounding the abdominal organs) and the pleura (area outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs).

There is a lot of debate and controversy surrounding which types of asbestos is harmful. Some types of asbestos are thought to be more dangerous than others but all types of asbestos exposure should be avoided. Actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile (white asbestos), and tremolite are all types of asbestos. Chrysotile is the type of asbestos most commonly used in manufacturing products.

Asbestos fibers are not visible to the eye. If you feel you may have been exposed to asbestos, the most common method for testing is a chest x-ray. The x-ray will not show the asbestos fibers but it can spot early signs of lung disease. There is no known cure for asbestos related diseases.
Jeff Lakie is the founder of Asbestos Resources a website providing information on asbestos