Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer Primary Cause

50 years ago asbestos was hailed by many as a miracle product, they said nearly anything could be made from this mineral. It is used as additive to reinforce mortar and plastics. Asbestos fibers can also be separated into fine threads that do not conduct electricity and are unaffected by heat or chemicals.

In the 1970's, following the discoveries of the health dangers of asbestos dust inhalation, the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission prohibited the use of asbestos in several products that could liberate asbestos fibers into the environment during use.

Asbestos can cause dangerous diseases that call Mesothelioma cancer. These fibers lodge themselves in the lining of the lung and infected mesothelium tissue. Asbestos can trigger tumors growth between 30 to 40 years after they are inhaled.

When asbestos fibers enter the body, by either breathing in the tiny asbestos fibers or by swallowing them, they can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancer. Asbestos may also cause coughing, lung damage, and shortness of breath in the short period for inhaled this.

According to one survey, one out of seven general public who came into contact with asbestos may develop any of the poles a part types of asbestos-related cancer, including mesothelioma.

Today it is understood that anyone working with or near asbestos has an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, so there are strictly controlled limits of exposure in the work place. But since the dormancy period of mesothelioma can often be 30 or 40 years, there are millions of workers who are at risk because of their exposure in the decades before the safety controls were put in place.

Dwi Madik is a Webmaster of Mesothelioma Cancer Information site. That brings you Free Mesothelioma Cancer Articles for you who wants to discover all information about this disease.

Quick Information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Mesotheliomas is a form of cancer, caused by asbestos exposure, that is inflicting countless americans, many of whom are unaware of its presence. Its name is derived because malignant cells originate in the mesothelium, a protective lining that defends most of the body's internal organs. This infliction can occur in the pleura (outer linings of the lung and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart). Most people who develop mesotheloimas do so working on job sites where asbestos particles are heavy in the air, usually due to insulation containing asbestos.

Symptoms of mesotheliomas may not appear until up to 25 years after the initial exposure. Many symptoms of perotoneal mesotheliomas include weight loss, cachexia, abdominal swelling, anemia, and fever. Symptoms of pleural mesotheliomas include chest wall pain, pleural effusion, shortness of breath, or a cough. In severe cases, the person may develop malignant tumors, collapsed lung, abdominal pain, ascites, and problems with bowel functions.

Diagnosing mesotheliomas is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions. A history of asbestos exposure will increase the probability of mesotheliomas, and extensive chest, CAT, or MRI scan can be performed to identify extensive pleural fluid build up. Treatments for mesothelioma include combinational surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and homeopathy. Many cases of mesotheliomas are due to institutional negligence, where asbestos was used in accordance with erroneus safety regulations.

In the United States, many products and industries were and are rife with asbestos fiber. Asbestos is often present in fireproofing, putty, caulk, gaskets, brake pads and shoes, clutch plates, fire blankets, and stage curtains. If you feel you may have been exposed to asbestos or it is recommended you seek diagnosis.

Bill from http://mesothelioma-laywers-portal.com

Asbestos and Government Coverups

The health risks associated with asbestos exposure have been known since the turn of the 20th Century. Dr H. Montague Murray of London, found asbestos fibers in a deceased 33 yr-old asbestos worker in 1900. In 1917, Dr. Henry K. Pancoast of the University of Pennsylvania medical school, found lung scarring in five asbestos-factory workers. Only one year later, an insurance statistician reported that due to the assumed health risks, insurers commonly denied coverage to asbestos...

The health risks associated with asbestos exposure have been known since the turn of the 20th Century. Dr H. Montague Murray of London, found asbestos fibers in a deceased 33 yr-old asbestos worker in 1900. In 1917, Dr. Henry K. Pancoast of the University of Pennsylvania medical school, found lung scarring in five asbestos-factory workers. Only one year later, an insurance statistician reported that due to the assumed health risks, insurers commonly denied coverage to asbestos workers. By the 1930?s, the asbestos manufacturers and their insurance companies knew that the asbestos would kill. In 1934, Aetna insurance company published a textbook in which they devoted a full chapter to asbestos, saying that asbestosis was ?incurable and usually results in total permanent disability followed by death.? (Bowker, pg.18)So now armed with this knowledge, by the time World War II started, the risks of asbestos had been recognized and the industry was starting to slide into decline. The war changed all that. The asbestos industry exploded with the massive production to place asbestos in ships. All prior safety knowledge was promptly forgotten and the asbestos industry boomed again.

There is an ?embarrassing? number of documents that surfaced during the many court cases over the years. These prove the asbestos corporations were well aware of the dangers of asbestos and willfully withheld this information from their employees. Scans of the following documents are available to be read on the Asbestos-Think Again website. Excerpts of these documents show:

In a 1949 document, Exxon admitted that asbestos causes lung cancer, silicosis, fibrosis, and erythema.

In a 1958 National Gypsum Memo ? ?We know that you will never lose sight of the fact that perhaps the greatest hazard in your plant is with men handling asbestos. Because just as certain as death and taxes is the fact that if you inhale asbestos dust you get asbestosis.?

A 1969 Travelers Insurance Co. memo states: ?confidentially Johns-Manville has been contaminating the ?hell? out of both the air and the water for quite some time.

?In 1975, an insurance industry memo summarized non-workplace exposure. Forty percent of homemakers and 50% of blue-collar workers had identifiable asbestos fibers in their lungs at death. The author states, ?It is now found (that) the public in general has been exposed to asbestos products to a far greater degree than previously recognized.?

There was no perceptible change in the outlook of companies until the landmark asbestos lawsuit filed in 1969, Borel vs Fibreboard Products Corporation, which was decided in favor of the plaintiff. It was the first time the country recognized a company?s duty to warn their employees about the dangers of asbestos. There were more than 16,000 asbestos/mesothelioma cases filed in the next 10 years.

Marc has been writing about mesothelioma and asbestos related topics for 12 years. His work is published all over the internet.

Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (Asbestos Surveys)

(The New Regulation 4; Duty to Manage Asbestos)

The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) 2002 place a legal duty on anyone with responsibility for the maintenance and repair of non-domestic premises and common areas of rented domestic premises to:-

1) Establish whether asbestos is present and where it is located 2) Assume that asbestos is present unless proved otherwise 3) Record all findings and assumptions 4) Monitor the condition of any asbestos 5) Implement plans to manage the risk from any asbestos 6) Provide information to those in contact with Asbestos

FAQs How does asbestos affect my business?

Commercial buildings built before 1999 are recommended to have an asbestos survey. If you own or occupy any non-domestic premises (including all commercial, public or industrial buildings) or domestic premises that have communal parts (e.g. stairwells, liftshafts, corridors), you need to establish and maintain a register of any asbestos containing materials (ACMS).

Do I need to remove any asbestos containing materials (ACMs)? No, not necessarily. The duty is to manage any risk - in many cases it is often left in situ and it's condition is recorded, monitored and managed.

What was the main use of Asbestos in buildings? SPRAYED COATINGS; on steel works, concrete walls and ceilings, for fire protection & insulation. LAGGING; insulation on pipework boilers & ducts INSULATION BOARDS; in partitions, fire doors & ceiling tiles ASBESTOS CEMENT PRODUCTS; sheeting on walls and roofs, tiles, cold water tanks, gutters, pipes & decorative plaster finishes.

Who is at risk?

Anyone who undertakes work on your behalf at your premises such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters and decorators. Even worker's wifes are at risk when cleaning soiled work clothes. "Breathing in Asbestos dust can lead to Asbestos related - diseases" What types of Asbestos are dangerous?

All types of Asbestos have potential to cause lung cancer.

IT ONLY TAKES ONE FIBRE TO KILL so if you require any further information on Asbestos Surveys or any other health and safety issue for free to visit the www.centralsafetyconsultancy.co.uk.

David Cant is a qualified Asbestos consultant who owns his own consultancy practice Central Safety consultancy Service Limited operating throughtout the UK. if you have any questions regarding asbestos or any other health and safety issue you can visit www.centralsafetyconsultancy.co.uk and send an email.

Asbestos Lung Disease - Mesothelioma and Asbestosis - Causes and Symptoms

A rare form of cancer, mesothelioma occurs when cancerous cells are discovered in the mesothelium, the protective sac that surrounds most of the body's internal organs. These malignant cells divide and reproduce without control, spreading to and damaging nearby tissues and organs. Mesothelioma cancer cells can also metastasize, or spread from their original starting point, to infect other parts of the body. While most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum (in the internal lining of the chest or abdominal areas), mesothelioma can begin elsewhere in the body as well.

Mesothelioma is discovered more commonly in men than in women, though it can appear in both sexes. One of the main risk factors for this form of cancer is its victims having worked with asbestos. Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure seem to go hand-in-hand, with history of exposure is present in roughly 70-80% of all reported cases of Mesothelioma. Unfortunately, asbestos was widely used in a variety of industrial products, ranging from cement to insulation. Its tiny particles float in the air and are easily inhaled or ingested, especially during the manufacturing process. Mesothelioma is just one of many serious ailments that can result from asbestos exposure, and just one of many kinds of cancers that can occur when one is exposed to asbestos for an extended period of time.

Symptoms of mesothelioma vary, but they typically do not appear until roughly 30-50 years after the victims were exposed to the asbestos. Those suffering from this form of cancer often experience shortness of breath, pain in the chest, weight loss, abdominal pain and/or swelling, blood clotting abnormalities, blockages in the bowel, anemia and fever. Symptoms may vary, depending on whether or not the mesothelioma has spread to other parts of the body, but other signs may include difficulty swallowing, pain, or swelling around the face and/or neck.

Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often difficult to diagnose. Many of its symptoms are similar to a vast array of other conditions. Because of this, one of the best ways to diagnose mesothelioma is by reviewing the patient's medical history and inquiring about any history of asbestos exposure. In addition to this, the doctor may perform a complete physical examination and take x-rays of the abdomen and chest, as well as performing lung function tests. Mesothelioma testing sometimes calls for CAT scans or MRI's, taking detailed pictures of different areas within the body. These images are then viewed on a large series of monitors and can be printed out, if needed.

The only true way to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma is to perform a biopsy, where a surgeon or oncologist removes a small sample of tissue, allowing them to then view it under a microscope and look for cancer cells. If a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, treatment will then be discussed, dependant on where the cancer is located and at what stage the mesothelioma is at. Some common treatment options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. In some cases, these different forms of treatment may be combined in order to actively combat the cancer.

Gust A. Lenglet has been an accountant and financial advisor for many years. He is President and CEO of HBS Financial Group, Ltd. and offers online tax filing through his many web sites. He is also an accomplished author in the tax, legal, and education fields.

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment - Asbestos Kills

Mesothelioma cancer is a disease that results from exposure to asbestos related substances. Asbestos usually consists of fibres that can enter the body through the mouth, or the skin, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream.

Mesothelioma cancer has become more widely documented in the last 5-10 years, due to the fact that symptoms of asbestos cancer can take between 20 to 40 years to manifest. Mesothelioma cancer is hard to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to manifest themselves until the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and other secondary illnesses such as pneumonia.

Asbestos cancer most often develops in men between the ages of 50 to 70 years who were exposed to high levels of asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos was mainly used in manufacturing industries such as automotive and ship building as well as in the construction industry. The use of asbestos was only recently banned in the 1990's.

Mesthelioma lung cancer has been found to be the most common form of mesothelioma cancer and it develops in the lining of the lung (pleural). Mesothelioma cancer can also develop in the abdominal area (peritoneal) and around the heart (pericardial). There is a greater chance of malignancy in abdominal asbestos cancer. For a more detailed explanation of mesothelioma cancer, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Mesothelioma lung cancer can be detected through a CT scan which enables it to be sometimes diagnosed earlier than the other two types of mesothelioma cancer. The type of mesothelioma cancer treatment will depend on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, the age of the patient as well as personal preferences. The disease can be divided into four separate stages. The stage in the disease process that is reached will determine the method of mesothelioma cancer treatment. At the first stage when the tumour is confined to the lining of the lungs, surgeons may try to remove the entire tumour surgically. Once the tumour has invaded the surrounding body tissues in the later stages, it is not curable.

Conventionally, the more advanced stages of mesothelioma cancer are treated with either radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy x-rays to destroy cancerous cells and shrink tumours Chemotherapy, on the other hand, uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The aim of these mesothelioma cancer treatments is to prolong the patient's life as the disease cannot be cured in the more advanced stages.

In addition to these conventional mesothelioma cancer treatments, there are also various experimental treatments currently under investigation which offer new hope.

Immunotherapy: This form of biological therapy for mesothelioma cancer treatment uses the patient's own immune system to attack the cancerous cells. Clinical studies have shown that the immune system is able to distinguish healthy cells from cancer cells, and can therefore be used to destroy those cancerous cells.

Gene Therapy: This form of mesothelioma cancer treatment is very much still in the developmental stages. The process involves injecting a specific gene straight into the tumour. This gene renders the cancer cells sensitive to the antiviral drug glanciclovir which under normal circumstances is not effective against these cells. The glanciclovir is then able to destroy all the cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue cells.

Drug Therapy: The drug Alimta is the only chemotherapy drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)for the treatment of patients with malignant mesothelioma lung cancer . This new and exciting drug has been demonstrated in clinical trials to reduce symptoms and increase the life expectancy of patients.

Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light to destroy cancer cells. The patient first is first administered a photosensitizing drug that only collects in cancerous cells. Fibre-optic cables are then inserted in the body in order to focus light of a certain frequency on the tumour. The light stimulates the photosensitizing drug to produce toxic oxygen molecules that destroy the cancerous cells.

These experimental mesothelioma cancer treatments, although still in the developmental stages, offer cancer victims the prospect of a better and longer life. With the likelihood of an increase in the number of people diagnosed with asbestos cancer, further research into other forms of mesothelioma cancer treatment is vital.

Note to Publishers: You may freely republish this article as is, without editing or modification, and all links must be kept live. The author, Gregory De Villiers, writes on a variety of health and wellness topics. For more information on mesothelioma cancer as well as asbestos litigation, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Mesothelioma Cancer - News and Information For Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer Victims

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body?s internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

There are three primary types of malignant mesotheliomas:

Epithelioid. About 50% to 70% of mesotheliomas are of this type and have the best outlook for survival.

Sarcomatoid. Approximately 7% to 20% of cases are of this type.

Mixed/biphasic. From 20% to 35% of mesothelioma cases fall into this category.

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

Mesothelioma News

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info-mesothelioma.tripod.com

Asbestos Dust the Silent Killer

Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, Asbestos Surveys The New Regulation 4; Duty to Manage Asbestos The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 place a legal duty on anyone with responsibility for the maintenance and repair of commercial premises and common areas of rented domestic premises to

1. Establish whether asbestos is present and where it is located
2. Assume that asbestos is present unless proved otherwise
3. Record all findings and assumptions
4. Monitor the condition of any asbestos
5. Implement plans to manage the risk from any asbestos
6. Provide information to those in contact with Asbestos

FAQs How does asbestos affect my business?

Commercial buildings built before 1999 are recommended to have an asbestos survey. If you own or occupy any commercial premises including all, public or industrial buildings or domestic premises that have communal parts example stairwells, lift shafts, corridors, you need to establish and maintain a register of any asbestos containing materials.

Do I need to remove any asbestos containing materials? No, not necessarily. The duty is to manage any risk in many cases it is often left in place and it?s condition is recorded, monitored and managed.

What was the main use of Asbestos in buildings? Sprayed Coatings on steel works, concrete walls and ceilings, for fire protection & insulation. LAGGING; insulation on pipework boilers & ducts Insulation Boards in partitions, fire doors & ceiling tiles Asbestos cement products sheeting on walls and roofs, tiles, cold water tanks, gutters, pipes & decorative plaster finishes.

Who is at risk? Anyone who undertakes work on your behalf at your premises such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters and decorators. Even worker?s wives are at risk when cleaning soiled work clothes.

Breathing in Asbestos dust can lead to Asbestos related diseases

What types of Asbestos are dangerous? All types of Asbestos have potential to cause lung cancer. It only takes one fibre to kill

About The Author David Grahan is Asbestos surveyor who owns his own consultancy practice Central Safety consultancy Service Limited operating throught out the UK. if you have any questions regarding asbestos or any other health and safety issue please our website www.asbestossurveyconsultancy.co.uk

A Quick Guide to Asbestos and Health Issues

Unless you have been completely out of touch, you have probably heard all the hubbub about the dangers of asbestos. So, what is the big deal?

A Quick Guide to Asbestos and Health Issues

Asbestos is a fibrous material that is highly resistant to burning. It has a long history. While it was first used on a large scale commercial basis at the turn of the twentieth century, it has actually been around much longer. In fact, the ancient Egyptians were known for using it burial clothes.

Common modern applications used to include building materials, products and automobile brake pads, which all required a fire resistant element. Asbestos is still used today, but on a fairly small scope. The reason has everything to do with health. Asbestos in and of itself is not harmful to people. What is harmful, however, is asbestos dust.

Asbestos dust is a vicious thing. Due to the chemical makeup of the material, the dust is like a cloud of fine glass particles. While they will not damage your skin, they do great damage to the lungs. Making matters worse, asbestos dust is so fine that it is easily raised from asbestos material like ceiling tiles and walls. Once in the air, it is all but invisible. Prolonged exposure, such as when working on or in a building with asbestos materials, can result in massive amounts of the toxic dust entering the lungs.

Once asbestos dust is in your lungs, you cannot expel it by coughing. That doesn't mean the body does not try. Asbestosis is scarring of the lungs from acid created by the body in an effort to get the asbestos dust out. If this process is allowed to occur for 10 to 20 years, the lungs may stop functioning because of excess scarring. If that sounds bad, it only gets worse. Asbestos dust can lead to terminal cancer in the form of mesothelioma. [What is Mesothelioma?]

Asbestos is an excellent fire resistant material that saves us from burning while killing us in a much slower manner. Since 1989, it has been banned in the United States in all but a few commercial areas.

Gerard Simington is with FindAnAttorneyForMe.com - offering asbestos and mesothelioma legal information.

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.