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AsbestosWhat is it?Abestos is a mineral that has been used since ancient times. In fact the Greek called asbestos the miracle mineral because it was so soft and pliant Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals is mined world wide and known for it’s incredible qualities to withstand heat and chemicals.
Uses
Once it was found that these miracle fibers were so resilient their uses began to expand. Starting with the industrial revolution and moving into the 20th century this mineral found its way into construction materials such as, roofing tiles, floor tiles, cement, insulation and much more. It also found its way into automotive products such as brakes, transmissions and linings.
One of the biggest uses was during the war when it was used in ships and submarines. Both the men serving as well as the dock crews became exposed to the high quantities of asbestos.
Health RisksIt’s reliance is what makes asbestos so dangerous to the human body. Once a microscopic fiber is inhaled it lodges itself into the lining around the major organs known as the mesothelium. Once there the body begins to fight off the intruder by secreting acid to dissolve the fiber. Unfortunately the fiber is resilient to the acid and the only thing damaged is the human body itself. Asbestos poisoning is the term used to signify any health problems resulting from exposure to asbestos. Once the connection was made between deteriorating health and asbestos exposure asbestos came under fire. Current legislation
In 1976 after years of pressure congress passed what is known as the Toxic Substances Control Act, which also included asbestos. This act controlled its uses but did not ban it.
In 1989 the EPA tried to ban it by regulating it but it was overturned two years later by a circuit court of appeals in New Orleans. The agreement was that old uses of the dangerous mineral would remain but no new uses could be introduced.
Although the US has never gone so far as to ban asbestos many industrialized nations have banned it including the European Union and a handful of other countries, such as Chile, Croatia, Australia, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia. But there are several countries,
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Asbestos
What is it?
Asbestos is a group of six different fibrous minerals: These six minerals are crocidolite, amosite, chrysotile, and also different fibrous varieties of tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite, They fibers occur naturally in soil and rocks in many areas. These fibers are resilient in that they are resistant to most chemicals and heat, making them hard to destroy. The fibers vary in length and may be straight or curled and are very pliable.
It is and has been used in a wide range of manufactured goods both in the construction industry: roofing shingles, floor & ceiling tiles, paper products, cement products, in the automotive industry in friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), textiles, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. They were also used extensively in the shipbuilding industry for years.
What effect does it have on the body?
The thing that makes asbestos so good for manufacturing is the same thing that makes it so bad for the body; it’s durability and resistance to chemicals & outside forces. When the particles become airborne they are microscopic in size and easily inhaled. Once inside the body they lodge themselves in the lining of the major organs known as the mesothelium.
The body in reaction to the intrusion begins secreting acids to dissolve the intruder but because of it’s reliance it has little if any affect on the fiber, but after continued secretion does have an affect on the body itself as it begins to scar the tissue surrounding the fiber. Over years these scars can turn into asbestosis or mesothelioma, which is cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
The symptoms of mesothelioma don’t appear from anywhere from 20-50 years making it very hard to diagnose since it may have been years if not decades since the original exposure to asbestos.
The symptoms can also mirror other diseases such as pneumonia complicating and delaying correct treatment for this asbestos exposure cancer.
Mesothelioma
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that attacks the mesothelium or lining that surrounds the body’s major organs. The most common forms of this cancer are:
Plueral mesothelioma – is associated with the lung area and is the most common. It accounts for roughly 70% of cases.
Pericardial mesothelioma – is associated with the lining of the heart known as the pericardium
Peritoneal mesothelioma- is associated with the peritoneum or the lining of abdominal cavity.
What causes mestothelioma?
The only link that has been found is exposure to asbestos. Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, most without having any idea of the exposure.
How much exposure does it take to get the disease?
Most with mesothelioma have had prolonged exposure but exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma.
When will the symptoms manifest?
This is probably what makes mesothelioma so deadly. People exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are just now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease they symptoms take 20-50 years to manifest.
What is the prognosis for malignant mesothelioma?
Like most diseases including cancer, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed, the age and physical health of the patient and how aggressively it is treated.
What type of treatment is used?
Research is constantly making break troughs in all cancer treatments including mesothelioma. Currently it is treated with:
- Surgery
- Radiation Therapy
- Chemotherapy
As well as a combination of the above. There are also typically clinical trails taking place that can be researched and signed up for.
The most important thing with mestothelioma is early diagnosis and treatment.
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