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Asbestos Mesothelioma Information |
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Asbestos Mesothelioma
Asbestos Exposure - The Primary Cause of MesotheliomaAsbestos, a heat resistant substance, was commonly used in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. People working in the building trade and those working with boilers/generators and in central heating/lagging at that time often have had exposure to clouds of dust when asbestos was drilled or cut up. Asbestos (3 main types) Chrysotile (White Asbestos) This was the form of asbestos used predominantly in products manufactured in the United States. Although small amounts of chrysotile were mined in the United States, the overwhelming majority of the asbestos was mined in Canada and then shipped into the United States.Chrysotile asbestos is known as serpentine because it is found in serpentine rock. Amosite (Gray Asbestos) Amosite asbestos was used to a lesser extent than chrysotile. Most of the amosite asbestos used in the United States was mined in South Africa. Amosite asbestos is an amphibole. Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos) This form of asbestos was the least used in commercial products. Approximately 10% of the asbestos used in the United States was crocidolite. Asbestos Fibers When asbestos fibers are released into the air, the fibers can be inhaled and swallowed. It is believed that the fibers cause illnesses by irritating cells (in the case of mesothelioma, the cells of the pleura or peritoneum). It wasn’t until the 1950s that a clear relationship between asbestos exposure and lung cancer was recognized; a relationship between asbestos and malignant mesothelioma wasn’t documented until 1960. People exposed to asbestos are at greater risk for lung cancer than mesothelioma. In addition, the risk for lung cancer is 60- to 90-fold greater in smokers exposed to asbestos than in nonsmokers with similar exposure levels. Asbestos exposure can also cause asbestosis (a chronic lung disease) and a number of other cancers. Today, as many as 8 million Americans have had work-related asbestos exposure. People who work in any of the industries in which asbestos is used have an increased risk for all asbestos-related illnesses. In addition, family members of people with occupational exposure to asbestos have a small but significantly increased risk because the fibers can be carried on the clothing and hair of those exposed. Since 1972, people who work with asbestos are required to shower and change clothes before leaving the workplace. Even people without these risk factors may have been exposed to asbestos, because asbestos-containing materials were used in the construction of many older buildings. When these materials deteriorate, asbestos fibers are released into the air. The danger occurs if the material containing asbestos deteriorates or is in some way disturbed (for example, by construction or demolition). If you live in an older home and plan a remodeling project, you may need to hire experts to safely remove or encapsulate any asbestos in your home. Incidence rates of malignant mesothelioma are expected to peak around the year 2000, as people who were exposed to asbestos in the 1950s and 1960s develop the disease (symptoms typically do not occur until 20 to 40 years after exposure). After the year 2000, the number of cases is expected to decline. Now that the dangers of asbestos are well understood, the use of asbestos declines each year, and industries that use asbestos have implemented safeguards against exposure. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. For this reason, everyone is advised to avoid any exposure. This site is devoted to the needs of people diagnosed with mesothelioma. The site is not a non-profit organization. The content was not prepared by medical/legal professionals and should not be taken as a substitute for medical/legal advice. The content was gathered from rather reliable resources and it's sole aim is to provide initial information to mesothelioma patients, relatives and friends. If you have any questions you can contact us at: mark@mesothelioma-information.org |
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