Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a term for several commonly found fibrous magnesium-silicate minerals. Due to their durable and versatile nature, asbestos materials were used widely in construction and manufacturing for most of the 20th century. Today, it is widely understood that asbestos is an extremely harmful substance. However, this was not always known. Even minimal inhalation of these asbestos fibers can develop into serious, and even fatal, conditions. In 1918, The United States Department of Labor issued a bulletin stating that there was an "urgent need for more qualified extensive investigation" into the severe harm caused by asbestos. Nevertheless, many industries kept using asbestos.

For decades, construction workers, vehicle mechanics, shipyard workers, electricians, and others employed in the building trades did not realize the danger, as they were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. Even now, workers renovating or demolishing old buildings may encounter asbestos. The danger was not limited those who directly handled the asbestos. If a worker had substantial exposure to asbestos, his or her co-worker or spouse also was vulnerable to asbestos-related illness.

Eventually scientific research confirmed the life-threatening risks caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. However, companies still ignored the danger, and continued to make and use products containing asbestos, until it was banned during the latter part of the 20th century. Asbestos was used widely in heavy industry, as well as insulation in hair dryers, electrical wiring, cement, paper, roofing materials, floorboards, and hundreds of other common items. Despite the legal ban on new uses, over one million Americans are endangered by exposure to existing asbestos sources every year.

Asbestos Removal

Asbestos still exists in many older buildings, including schools, hospitals, airports, and factories across Michigan. From skyscrapers to residential buildings, asbestos continues to threaten the health of unsuspecting citizens.

Removal of asbestos is a complex process. Special precautions are necessary, to avoid release of asbestos fibers into the surrounding environment. Otherwise, the asbestos will endanger anyone in the area, who inhales or ingests its odorless and tasteless microscopic fibers. The danger is great, because any amount of asbestos can be harmful. For these reasons, there is a conflict between those who push for removal of asbestos from existing structures, and those who oppose it, if it is unlikely to enter building ventilation systems.

Some companies and government agencies arrange for asbestos removal to prevent public exposure, while others do so to avoid potential litigation. Still other projects are driven by legislation or public outcry for asbestos removal from public buildings, including many older schools across the country.

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases

Three serious health conditions may result from exposure to even a small amount of airborne asbestos fibers. All three conditions result from inhaling the fibers, which become embedded in the lungs or other parts of the body. It can take years for symptoms of any of these asbestos illness to appear. Some experts believe that no symptoms appear for more than a decade after exposure. In some cases, it takes even longer for the illness to become evident. The following is information about the three major conditions resulting from asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma
The medical profession used to consider this type of cancer as quite rare. While still uncommon, the number of workers diagnosed with mesothelioma has risen. Now, about 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported in the United States every year. The incidence of this disease is increasing at an even higher rate in Europe. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer, usually caused by asbestos fibers that actually penetrate lung tissue. It is also possible for mesothelioma to develop after these fibers penetrate the heart or the abdomen. While doctors have found many different causes for other forms of cancer, the only definitely identified cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Asbestosis
Sometimes, this term is used incorrectly to refer to all ailments resulting from asbestos exposure. However, it is actually a very specific condition. Asbestosis (also known as interstitial fibrosis) develops when inhaled asbestos fibers cause scarring of the lung tissue. Over time, this scarring reduces the capacity of the lung. Individuals with asbestosis may suffer disabling lung impairments, and must be monitored closely because they are at increased risk of even more serious asbestos-related conditions.

Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is all too common in our society and has many possible causes. However, there is evidence of a link between asbestos exposure and lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is even higher for an individual who has been exposed to asbestos, and also smokes cigarettes. Mesothelioma Treatment Options "Staging" is a term that medical professionals use to define the spread and extent of cancers like mesothelioma. In general, the least serious "first stage" only involves the lining of the lung. By the most serious "stage four," cancer has spread to other organs of the body.

Medical researchers continue to improve treatment for mesothelioma. The most common form of treatment is still chemotherapy. With new combinations of drugs, such as pemetrexed and carboplatin, chemotherapy may slow the progression of cancer in some victims. Radiation or surgery is the an appropriate treatment for other mesothelioma patients. In addition, some experimental treatments are yielding promising test results and offer hope for future victims.

Mesothelioma is still regarded as a deadly form of cancer. The average life span after diagnosis is only one to two years. However, the stage of the disease when it is discovered, and an individual's response to treatment are significant factors in determining life expectancy. Due to medical progress, 20% of those diagnosed at an early stage of mesothelioma have at least 5 more years to live.

Mesothelioma Symptoms and Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Men are many times more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. This may be due to the higher percentage of men who work in factories and construction, where there is an increased risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Older men are more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma. This is not surprising, because of the relatively long period of time between asbestos exposure and the onset of this cancer.

Physicians may have difficulty diagnosing mesothelioma, because initial symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest or abdominal pain, can be confused with other conditions. There are tests to rule out mesothelioma, including a thoracoscopy or a peritoneoscopy. If you have symptoms and believe that you may have past asbestos exposure, see your doctor immediately. If you or a loved one suffer from asbestos related cancer or mesothelioma cancer, talk with an experienced asbestos lawyer today.

Attorney Marya Sieminski joined the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein in 2003. She is admitted to practice law in Michigan state courts and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated magna cum laude from Wayne State University Law School. Marya has worked as a trial lawyer for 10 years and exclusively represented victims in personal injury litigation and in workers compensation claims. She also was appointed by the Governor to serve on the State of Michigan Workers Compensation Qualifications Advisory Committee. The Law Offices of Samuel I. Bernstein, our Michigan mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, and personal injury law firm, has championed the cause of seriously injured Michigan victims for three generations.

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.

To learn more about asbestos in the home, mesothelioma holistic healing or chemotherapy for mesothelioma, please visit our website. This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.

Asbestos Removal

Many buildings hold the presence of carcinogenic Asbestos which was used in thermal system insulation and numerous other materials. Before the ban on ?popcorn ceilings? in the United States in 1978, its use was a common practice in the construction of homes. The ?popcorn ceiling? is a source of the dangerous Asbestos, and therefore initiates a health need to remove the Asbestos present in the home and get the same verified in a competent laboratory. Asbestos might also be found in homes built as late as 1986, and therefore initiates a need of even their inspection. It is essential to determine the location of Asbestos, and them remove and dispose of it.

After removal, a proper disposal is crucial. The Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division regulates the disposal of Asbestos as a solid waste. The requirements presented in this brief account on Asbestos Removal applies to Asbestos containing waste and is not inclusive of Category I and Category II non-friable Asbestos waste that has not been reduced, crumbled, or pulverized to powder.

It is essential to seal Asbestos-containing waste in leak-proof containers or wrappings. The packaged Asbestos should be labeled as specified by 29 CFR 1910.1001(j) (2) or 1926.58(k) (2) (iii). It is essential for the label to include the following information: ?DANGER. CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS. AVOID CREATING DUST. CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD.?

It is also essential for the labels to be in compliance with the 29 CFR 1910.1200(f) or OEBGD/FGS. To gain the value of visibility and legibility, it is essential to print the letters on the label in sufficient size and contrast. The labels must be printed in English, the host-nation language and DRMOs language. It should include the name and location of the waste generator.

The vehicle markings should be displayed such that they are easily readable and conform to the requirements for 51 cm?36 cm (20 in.?14 in) upright format signs as specified in 29 CFR 145(d) (4). It is essential to include the following important information in the lower panel with specified letter size, style, and visibility: ?DANGER. ASBESTOS. CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. RESPIRATORS AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ARE REQUIRED.?

A waste shipment record used for the shipments of Asbestos waste (40 CFR 61.150) is similar to the hazardous waste manifest requirement. It is the responsibility of the operator of the disposal facility to return a copy of the waste shipment record to the generator. It is always crucial to keep a copy of the waste record shipment for a period of 2 years.

Asbestos provides detailed information on asbestos, asbestos and mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, asbestos exposure and more. Asbestos is affliated with Lung Cancer Stages

Asbestos - No One Said It Cause Cancer!

Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated. An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition.

Asbestos fibers can enter the air or water from the breakdown of natural deposits and manufactured asbestos products. Small diameter fibers and particles may remain suspended in the air for a long time and be carried long distances by wind or water before settling down.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare disease that is strongly related to exposure to asbestos particularly occupational exposure. Mesothelioma is the most serious asbestos causing disease. Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is via exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos.

There isn't any cause of mesothelioma other than asbestos, and it's obvious that the major source of the substance is Kubota. According to various researches done, the odds of developing mesothelioma decreased 6.3 percent for every 10 kilometers farther from the asbestos source. Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos.

Many employers and the manufacturers of asbestos knew about the dangers when they exposed employees to this material.

Indeed, reports Forbes magazine: "asbestos defendants are very likely now paying compensation for every occupational disease known to man. Tomorrow's epidemic: The epidemic of asbestos disease is expected to peak in the next decade. Usually, a period of 10 to 40 years or more passes before the asbestos victim exhibits the first asbestos disease symptoms.

There is a long latency period between exposure and the development of asbestos disease symptoms. Each state has its own set of deadlines, called statutes of limitation, for allowing victims of asbestos disease to file lawsuits. The victims of asbestos disease deserve to have these issues clearly and squarely addressed. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause permanent and irreversible damage and disease to vital organs. All types of asbestos cause disease and death.

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

Asbestos Statistics

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of asbestos is certainly no exception.

Asbestos is a natural mineral that has been widely used in the past in construction materials. But after the discovery of the deadly health consequences related to asbestos, its exploitation was banned. In spite of this, the prohibition could not stop the damage already done to people that has been exposed to this material either in the workplace or at home.

In 2002, 1862 deaths were reported to have been caused by mesothelioma, which is one of the most common diseases related to asbestos. It is considered that asbestos related lung cancer deaths equal those caused by mesothelioma. And taking into account asbestosis, there were 112 deaths in 2002 and in the following year 655 deceases were reported.

The more authentic information about asbestos you know, the more likely people are to consider you a asbestos expert. Read on for even more asbestos facts that you can share.

There has been an increase in the yearly figure of deaths caused by mesothelioma. In 1968, 153 deceases were recounted and in 2000 the number rose to 1633. In the year 2001, 1860 deaths were reported and the next year there were 1862 cases. The highest point of mesothelioma deaths is expected to hit Great Britain between 2011 and 2015 with an estimated number of 1950 to 2450 deaths. This estimation is done considering the peak of asbestos exposure in that country, which was around the 1960s. As regards asbestosis, the annual number of cases reported in 2003 was of 655 cases.

This gigantic proportion of cases has led to the setting of controls and regulations to reduce the risk related to asbestos. The Asbestos Regulations has prohibited asbestos handling and manipulation with a few exceptions.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos
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James Mahony is the founder of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Information, A site dedicated to mesothelioma and asbestos information

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The Asbestos Disaster - Who Is To Blame

The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians were all aware of the health dangers of asbestos. It seems strange that the asbestos industry in many parts of the world chose to ignore the risks.

Even if the ancient wisdom had been lost, insurance companies were refusing to insure asbestos workers, or charging higher premiums for them by the 1920's. 50 Years later some companies in the asbestos industry were still doing nothing to protect their workers.

To be fair, the workers themselves had the same access to information as the companies, so must also take responsibility for their actions in deciding to work in a dangerous industry. In many respects that decision was similar to the decision that many people still take on a daily basis today - to smoke a cigarette. The apparent benefit of taking home a pay check overrode the distant possibility of death for those workers and their families, just as the immediate pleasure of a cigarette does for smokers today.

Having said that, I believe that the employers have a duty to ensure that their workers are in as safe an environment as possible, and that they are aware of the risks, so that if they decide to work there, they are making an informed decision. Clearly this did not always happen, and as a result the industry is going through a series of lawsuits, where people who have become ill are suing for compensation. Many companies around the world have already gone bankrupt as a result of this, and the process appears to be continuing. In the US there is legislation proposed to pay compensation from a central fund, but this proposal seems unlikely to succeed because of the level of agreement that will be required on how the money in the fund will be collected.

Both workers and employers in all types of business would do well to reflect on this sorry saga where no-one with the possible exception of a few lawyers, will ever feel that the decision to either work in, or employ people in a dangerous environment, was justified.

Tony McGlinn

The asbestos site makes it easy to find the information you need if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos. To receive your free 35 page support guide visit the asbestos education website http://www.asbestosabc.com.