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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