What does asbestos have to do with mesothelioma?
The only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States is previous
exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos manufacturers knew about the hazards of
asbestos seventy years ago - but they kept this knowledge to themselves. The
first warnings given to workers exposed to asbestos were in the mid-1960s, and
they were terribly inadequate. Even today, workers are not always told they are
working around asbestos and are at risk for asbestos disease.
What can someone with mesothelioma do?
- Seek out the best and most up-to-date information.
- Seek out the best medical care.
- Early screening for mesothelioma diagnosis.
- Stay in close contact with your doctor.
- Consider whether or not you want to bring a lawsuit because of this
asbestos-related injury.
- Remember that resources are available to you through community and
medical support groups, asbestos victims' organizations, your place of
worship, as well as your family and friends.
How common is mesothelioma?
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.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of
asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all
cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any
known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of
strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven.
Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement,
brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If
tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing
process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health
problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk
of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other
cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the
combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's
risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use
greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of
American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks
associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of
developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work
in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the
heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable
levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear
personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to
asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief
exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who
are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos
workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other
asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos
dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the
chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are
usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the
workplace.
People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet
Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet
describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible
benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI
Publications Locator Web site at
http://cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.
Mesothelioma Lawsuit is the best way to find information about
Mesothelioma resources.
This web page takes the legwork out of finding great
Mesothelioma resources. We have compiled great links to
Mesothelioma
information and pages dedicated to
Asbestos Cement Pipe Corrosivity here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Asbestos Cement Pipe Corrosivity.
We've taken the time to check out each and every featured Mesothelioma website to make sure they are quality sites, with quality information.
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and some incredible resources
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In our "Featured Mesothelioma Article"
section, you'll find an article related to Mesothelioma.
We will be providing you with updated and new featured articles on a regular
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Additional
Mesothelioma links
Advisory Asbestos Australia Disease Service
Alabama Law Firm Asbestos Mesothelioma
Angeles Asbestos Los Removal
Asbestos Cancer Attorney
Asbestos Cancer Lawsuit
Asbestos Claim Legal
Asbestos Concrete Pipe
Asbestos Coverage Environmental Insurance Lawyer
Asbestos Danger
Asbestos Disease Attorney - Internet Error
Asbestos Encapsulation Sydney
Asbestos Law Ny Removal
Asbestos Removal Cost
Asbestosis Morning Sickness
California Asbestos Law
Chicago In Mesothelioma Settlement
Colorado Mesothelioma Lawyer
Dallas Mesothelioma Law Firm
Delaware Mesothelioma Attorney
Diagnose Failure Lawsuit Mesothelioma
Epa Asbestos Regulation
Failure To Diagnose Asbestos Lawyer
Fort Lauderdale Mesothelioma Lawyer
Hawaii Mesothelioma Attorney
Indiana Mesothelioma Lawyer
Lawyer Camarillo Asbestos
Lawyer Fillmore Asbestos
Mesothelioma Attorney Annapolis
Tennessee Mesothelioma Lawyer
West Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyer - Internet Error
Mesothelioma
What
is asbestos?
"Asbestos" is the name given to a
group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that
can be separated into thin threads and woven. These fibers are not affected by
heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos
has been widely used in many industries. Four types of asbestos have been
commonly used:
Chrysotile, or white asbestos (curly, flexible white fibers), which accounts for
about 90 percent of the asbestos currently used in industry; Amosite (straight,
brittle fibers that are light gray to pale brown in color); Crocidolite, or blue
asbestos (straight blue fibers); and Anthophyllite (brittle white fibers).
Chrysotile asbestos, with its curly fibers, is in the serpentine family of
minerals. The other types of asbestos, which all have needle-like fibers, are
known as amphiboles.
Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny
particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be
easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems.
Mesothelioma -
Cancer of the Lung Lining - Part 2
The Mesothelioma is referred to
by different names, depending on what part of the body it is found in. In the
abdomen, it is called the peritoneum, in the lungs, the pleura, and in the
heart, the pericardium. These correspond to peritoneum Mesothelioma (cancer of
the abdomen/stomach), pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining) and
pericardium Mesothelioma.
Years to Develop Mesothelioma is characterized by having a long latency period,
which means that symptoms do not develop until 20-50 years after exposure to
what caused it. The average age at which symptoms usually begin to appear is
around 60 years old. It is estimated that about 3,000 to 4,000 cases of
Mesothelioma are diagnosed each years in the US. The number of cases reported
each year is increasing.
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 6a
How is Mesothelioma diagnosed?
Diagnosing Mesothelioma is often
difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other
conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history,
including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may
be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests.
A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful.
A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a
computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a
computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of Mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a
surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and
treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope
by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the
abnormal area is located.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
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Asbestos | Volatile Organic Chemicals | Chlorite | Corrosivity | Lead and ... Asbestos ... lined asbestos cement pipe and coal-tar-lined pipes and tanks. ... |
... probably due to the high corrosivity of. the local water. ... study of the use of asbestos-cement pipe for the distribution of drinking water in Escambia ... |
... due to raw water source and distribution system (e.g., asbestos-cement pipe), the system shall sample in the distribution system under conditions where ... |
... Special monitoring for corrosivity characteristics. (a)-(c) ... Asbestos cement pipe. ... Vinyl lined asbestos cement pipe. Coal tar lined pipes and tanks. ... |
water supply to reduce corrosivity and begin. rehabilitation of the asbestos cement pipes. ... Asbestos cement (A/C) piping was used extensively ... |
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