Cancers Relating to Asbestos Exposure

By Joseph Devine

Asbestos has been in our lives for the past 3,000 years. Even in these times did people notice the harmful effects. 2,000 years ago, ancient Greeks like Strabo and Romans such as Pliny the Elder wrote about strange lung illnesses that befell slaves who mined and worked with asbestos. However, it was not until 1989 that the United States banned the mineral due to its negative health implications.

Asbestos was generally considered an extremely useful material in a number of different industries. As a silicate mineral, asbestos is a highly insulating material. It resists the effects of heat, flame, chemicals, electricity, and degradation. Additionally, it is very flexible and has high tensile strength. Thus, it is no surprise that it was added to drywall, roofing tiles, texturing, gaskets, brake pads, stage curtains, and even firefighter's gear.

This mineral isn't dangerous until it becomes airborne. Asbestos easily breaks off into microscopic airborne fibers. From there, you can inhale or ingest the particles, which can then cause a variety of health problems. Asbestos warts, pleural thickening, pleural plaques, and asbestosis are just a few of the health issues that can develop from asbestos exposure.

Additionally, asbestos has been linked to several different types of cancer. If inhaled, the fibers can lodge in the lungs and cause serious illness. First, it directly contributes to mesothelioma, which is a specific form of lung cancer. Mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the internal organs, called the mesothelium. Exposure to asbestos can also cause lung cancer itself. This happens when tumors develop in the walls of the bronchi. From here, the cancer can spread to the liver, bones, and brain, among other places.

Next, another way for you to develop health problems is to ingest the asbestos fibers. This occurs when people breathe in the fibers, which can get trapped in the saliva. After swallowing the particles can spread throughout your digestive system. Thus, there are several cancers relating to this process that can be spurred on as a result of asbestos exposure, including gastrointestinal and colorectal. Gastrointestinal cancer can hit the stomach, small intestine, and/or large intestine. Colorectal cancer refers to the tumors that hit the colon, which is the muscular tube that connects the small intestines to the rectum.

Also, asbestos exposure can increase your risks for developing several other types of cancer, including the throat, gallbladder, kidney, and esophagus. However, these connections have not yet been confirmed.

Exposure to asbestos can lead to the formation of deadly cancers. If you or someone you know has been illegally exposed to asbestos and now has mesothelioma, you should consult legal counsel concerning your rights. For more information, talk to a mesothelioma lawyer at the firm of Williams Kherkher today.

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Asbestos and Mesothelioma Basics - Are You at Risk For This Rare Cancer?

By Jonathan Ling

Each year between 2000 and 3000 Americans are diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma every year. Asbestos exposure is the usual cause of this rare cancer. Until the 1980's asbestos continued to be mined and used in the US, mostly for insulation, but also for roofing, ceiling tiles, floor tiles and brake pads.

It usually takes anywhere from 20 to 40 years for mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure. Scientists have not yet fully determined how exposure to this substance causes this rare cancer. What is known is that asbestos fibers that are inhaled are mostly exhaled by coughing or swallowing (about 66% are exhaled). The fibers that remain in the body travel through the airways and eventually reach the alveoli (tiny air sacs) in the lungs.

It is not certain how the fibers arrive in the mesothelium (a protective membrane covering the internal organs, like the lungs and heart). It is thought that it takes years for asbestos to make this journey, which helps explain why it takes so many years before this rare cancer develops.

Safe levels of asbestos exposure have never been established. There is some evidence that even low levels of exposure can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure is not the only possible cause of this rare cancer. Other potential causes are:

Simian virus 40 (SV40) - a virus in contaminated polio vaccines in the 1950's and 1960's. Erionite - a non-asbestos mineral. Genetic predisposition - family history and genetics may play a role.

Who Is At Risk Of Developing Mesothelioma?

Most cases involve regular asbestos exposure. In the 1970's US laws were put into place to protect workers from exposure. Workers in certain industries had regular exposure, such as: Insulation workers, demolition workers, drywall workers, firefighters, automobile mechanics, steel mill workers, shipyard and shipbuilding workers, US Navy veterans. Even family members of these workers may be at risk because of their regular exposure to asbestos.

Diagnosing this cancer is very difficult and complicated because symptoms don't usually arise until the disease in in the late stages. Symptoms are non-specific such as weight loss, fatigue and night sweats.

If you or a loved one had consistent asbestos exposure, and you have questions you should seek out resources for more information. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation are both excellent resources.

Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website which helps people find the best hair dryer for their needs, where you can learn about the Elchim Hair Dryer.

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