How to Prevent Occupational Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos is a generic name for a group of dangerous fibers used in the construction business. Asbestos fibers can separate and be easily inhaled, causing considerable damage to the lungs and other organs. Asbestos is a highly-regulated material and many occupational safety measures are in place to prevent exposure to it. Following are some steps for avoiding occupational exposure to asbestos.

Repair the free flowing fibrous area. Many issues arise because the area that contains the asbestos has been damaged and the fibers are freely floating through the air. Repairing the effected area may include wrapping the asbestos, removing it and replacing it with a newer, less harmful substance, or enclosing the effected area.

Wear a HEPA filtered respirator that has been individually fitted for you. There are many respirators on the market to choose from. A dust particle mask is not sufficient protection from the airborne fibers. You should wear a mask certified safe by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Consult an OSHA specialist for more information.

Wet the asbestos when working with it. Wet fibers are heavier and fall to the ground or don't free-flow in the air. The point is to not inhale the fibers, so making the fibers heavy will help prevent this.

Train the employees on the dangers of asbestos. A major part of both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is to prevent exposures in the workplace through education.

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Free mesothelioma and asbestos books

Being a very complicated disease, as all types of cancer are, mesothelioma experts have gathered enough mesothelioma information to fill several books on the subject. Asbestos is also a subject that is covered in several books, some referring to its’ qualities, others to the risks it poses and mining techniques.

Available at some shops, these books will mostly cover health related issues. You will probably be able to find several books that clearly explain how asbestos is able to cause mesothelioma, how it can be avoided and how other related diseases can be treated. Here are some examples of such books:

Lorraine Kember's "Lean on Me - Cancer through a Carer's Eyes"Paul Kraus “Surviving mesothelioma and other cancers – A patient’s guide”A general asbestos and mesothelioma book describing how it can be treated or even prevented, available in any mesothelioma center

Support books on lung cancer and treatment options should be able to provide with an insight of some of the details that come with this type of diseases. Cancer patients should consider getting such a book, because, among other vital information, it also provides with stories about other mesothelioma patients and what they did to make their life as normal as possible and not be morally affected by the disease.

Other mesothelioma and asbestos books contain legal information about asbestos litigation and every detail that needs o be attended before filing claim. Books about the mineral asbestos are also available and will provide with detailed information regarding asbestos materials, toxicity levels of the mineral and pictures of asbestos fibers under the microscope.

If you are looking for useful books at the lowest possible prices, try looking for them in mesothelioma treatment centers, charity foundations or mesothelioma and asbestos information bureaus. Even if these location do not have mesothelioma books on sale the people there will be able to provide with contact details to nearest store that provides such books.

It would be an interesting reading material a book on mesothelioma treatments. You will be able to see how asbestos treatment methods evolved and how close we actually are to a cure for this type of diseases.

Please feel free to contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers at any time regarding mesothelioma and asbestos books. We can recommend some of the best and the lowest possible prices, and we can also provide with details about the way you can purchase them. We will not ask for anything in return to the information we provide.

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Asbestos Levels Too High at Chicago Demolition Site

Pat Guth contributes news and insightful content for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. Bio »

April 03, 2013

Chicago, Illinois - The contractors responsible for the demolition of a 9-story building on Chicago’s North Side failed to do their job correctly, resulting in the release of high levels of asbestos and a subsequent request for a work stoppage, reports a story aired on WTHI-TV 10.

According to the story, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is seeking a court order to stop the demolition of the building, constructed in 1923 and once home to a mental hospital and then a hotel. The agency has asked Chicago Attorney General Lisa Madigan to seek an injunction to prevent the contractors, Zidan Management Group and Dubai Construction, from tearing down the building, which contains a large amount of asbestos materials.

The EPA claims that its inspectors discovered that the two companies were not following proper asbestos removal procedures during the initial phases of demolition. In most cases, proper procedure involves safely removing asbestos materials before demolition begins or wetting these same materials before demolition so that fibers aren’t able to be released when the building comes down. The EPA also notes that they had no notification of the demolition and that the companies did not properly inspect for asbestos before work began.

Hence, the companies’ negligence led to the detection of unsafe levels of asbestos in the air around the building, which was constructed during a time when asbestos use was quite commonplace. The IEPA now wants a licensed, outside contractor to develop a plan to address the contamination.

Airborne asbestos fibers can be quite dangerous. Anyone working in the vicinity of such fibers without wearing proper protective gear, including masks, can inhale the fibers. These tiny, sharp particles can become imbedded in the lung area and cause the formation of cancerous tumors and an eventual diagnosis of mesothelioma.

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Asbestos Removal Questionable at Old Sugar Refinery

Brooklyn, NY - The future redevelopment of the former Domino Sugar refinery in Brooklyn is already garnering the attention of local labor unions who claim that the developer chosen for the project is considering a “shady” asbestos company to tackle the removal of the carcinogenic material from the site.

An article in The Gothamist reports that Two Trees Management, which will be overseeing the project over the next decade, has raised eyebrows for considering a company whose past involvement in similar projects is questionable at best and has resulted in a few lawsuits. And it’s all done in the name of saving a few dollars, say the members of Local 78, a union that consists of lead, asbestos, and hazardous waste laborers.

The union claims that not only did the company, New York Insulation, fail to pay its employees but they also left a hazardous mess behind after doing work at the Department of Education in Brooklyn, which was being turned into condominiums. They claim that during that particular job, asbestos material was literally flying out the window,

Jed Walentas, son of Two Trees founder David Walentas, claims the company is doing the right thing by hiring New York Insulation, proclaiming “total confidence” in the company. He also said they were “better than any other bidder, union or non-union.” Jeremy Soffin, the company’s PR director, agreed, adding that Two Trees has had “excellent experience working with New York Insulation in the past.”

The old refinery on the East River was built in 1856, and by 1870, records show, it was processing more than half the sugar used in the U.S. Though it was rebuilt after a fire in 1882, most of the old buildings remain on the site. The Brooklyn plant ceased operations in 2004. Three of the buildings have landmark status, but the others – which are full of asbestos – will be either demolished or renovated.

State and federal laws demand that asbestos removal be done by a licensed contractor trained in such procedures and that it be done in ways so as not to release dangerous fibers into the air, where they can be inhaled and cause mesothelioma cancer and other diseases.

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Investigation Continues in Paterson, NJ Asbestos Incident

Pat Guth contributes news and insightful content for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. Bio »

April 10, 2013

Paterson, NJ - As authorities in Paterson, New Jersey continue to investigate why prison inmates and untrained municipal employees were charged with the task of removing asbestos materials from municipal offices that were undergoing renovation, the city has finally decided to seek out a private licensed contractor to remove and disposal of the toxic debris.

“This is part of being in compliance with what (the state) requested,” Paterson Public Works Director Christopher Coke said, noting that the city council will meet next week to vote on a resolution that charges them with the task of gathering bids to complete the project.

In the meantime, many still wonder what city officials were thinking when they drafted inmates and employees not licensed to handle asbestos to start the job several months ago. The city’s law department and the state’s labor department have confirmed that they are involved in the investigation as is Sheriff Richard Berdnik, who is interested in learning the facts because the inmates used in the project were part of his Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP).

“Our guys weren’t equipped to do that and we weren’t educated to do that,” said Michael Jackson, a member of the executive board of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 2272, referring to the municipal workers. “The city tried to cut costs and it put people in danger.”

Coke claims, however, that the workers were never in danger of asbestos exposure. He says all employees were given masks and gloves while working inside the Ellison Street structure and that air and dust samples were taken and came back negative. Others say that Coke brought in a fan to clear the dust before the samples were taken.

Now, the inmates and municipal workers remain worried about their health, aware that inhaling asbestos fibers could eventually cause severe respiratory problems and issues such as the development of mesothelioma cancer.

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Judge Imposes $850,000 Civil Penalty for Asbestos Violations

Steubenville, Ohio - A judge in Jefferson County, Ohio has imposed a large fine on the owner of a former steel facility and his affiliates for what he described as “massive asbestos violations.”

According to an account in the Norwalk Reflector, the sanctions against Arthur David Sugar, Sr.; David Sugar Excavating, LLC; Honey Creek Contracting, Inc.; Excavation Technologies Inc.; and ADS Leasing are the result of shoddy practices that occurred during the demolition of the former Weirton Steel Mill in the town of Steubenville, Ohio. The court found that the defendants showed a blatant disregard for laws governing asbestos handling and removal. Specifically, in some cases they failed to remove the material before demolition or did so in an improper manner, and also failed to notify the Ohio EPA of their intention to remove asbestos from the facility.

“Asbestos is widely known to be a dangerous, cancer-causing material which must be abated in any demolition,” Attorney General DeWine said when the verdict was announced. “The aggressive penalty issued against the defendants in this case shows that endangering Ohioans by failing to properly manage asbestos will not be tolerated.”

In 2011, Sugar and Honey Creek pleaded guilty in a United States District Court to one count of conspiracy and four counts of violating the Clean Air Act rules related to the proper removal and handling of asbestos. As a result, a trial ensued in 2012 at which time the defendants’ liability was debated, resulting in the recent penalty.

“As attorney general, I take my role in protecting the health and safety of Ohio families very seriously,” DeWine said. “I will continue to work with Ohio EPA to make sure Ohio's laws regarding asbestos are enforced across the state.”

An abundance of asbestos was used in steel mills across the country throughout much of the 20th century, so it isn’t unusual to encounter the material when doing demolition or renovation at an old mill. Asbestos may have been used in building products like floor or ceiling tiles or could have been employed as insulation for boilers, generators, pipes, and electric wiring. Individuals who worked in steel mills were constantly being exposed to the carcinogenic material. Hence, those workers are still candidates for developing diseases such as mesothelioma or other cancers.

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Asbestos Labeling Law Passes through Washington House of Representatives

Olympia, Washington - A bill which demands that all products containing asbestos and sold in Washington State stores be labeled as such, informing buyers that the product they’re purchasing could be hazardous to their health if not handled properly, has passed the second step towards becoming a law.

The Spokesman-Review reports that the proposed bill passed the House of Representatives this week with a vote of 65-28 in favor of the proposition, which was first introduced by Democratic Senator Andy Billig of Spokane.

Generally, the bill pertains mostly to construction products, many of which still contain small amounts of the harmful mineral. Under the proposed legislation, these products will be clearly labeled, allowing purchasers the option of finding a substitute product that does not contain hazardous asbestos.

Advocates for individuals already suffering from asbestos-related diseases due to on-the-job exposure, including construction workers, see the bill as a step in the right direction, though many believe the use of asbestos in the United States should be banned.

According to the article, the House first turned down an amendment proposed by Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, to lower the potential maximum penalties for not labeling from $10,000 to $1,000. Rep. Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines, explained that rather than a fine, violators are more likely to get a warning and the opportunity to take corrective action. The higher figure is a maximum, not a set amount for every infraction, he explained.

The next step in making the asbestos labeling bill a reality is a signature by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. That should happen soon.

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The danger of Asbestos

Asbestos is the collective term used to describe a family of several types of mineral fibrous rocks. There are currently six different regulated types of asbestos, with the three main types being Crocidolite, Amosite and Chrysolite.

Asbestos is the collective term used to describe a family of several types of mineral fibrous rocks. There are currently six different regulated types of asbestos, with the three main types being Crocidolite, Amosite and Chrysolite.
Crocidolite which is usually blue can be found a lot in southern Africa, Australia and in Russia. The Amosite which is usually brown is most commonly found in Africa. The Chrysolite is of a white colour and can be found in different places all around the world. All those three types were actually imported a lot in the United Kingdom before being banned from use in the eighties for some and at the end of the nineties for others.

Asbestos fibres have been incorporated into many different materials and especially building materials since the end of the nineteenth century because of their useful properties. It was used as an acoustic insulator, a thermal insulator but also as fire proofing. The mineral fibre was actually known by the ancient Greek who recognized certain hazards of it. But its disadvantage is that it is a highly toxic material and can cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Asbestos fibres can be easily inhaled and can become lodged in the tissue of your chest and as a result, your body?s natural defenses may not be able to break them down. This can then lead to lung diseases and cancer especially if you are exposed to the fibres repeatedly over a certain number of years.

Even though the white asbestos, also called chrysolite, is still used a lot in the United States and known as less dangerous as the other types of asbestos, it can still cause cancer in humans but with some uncertainty as to the scale of the risk involved there.

The first death recorded as related to asbestos occurred in 1906 and at the same period, scientists started to notice a large number of deaths and lung diseases in asbestos mining towns.

The British Lung Foundation carried out a survey recently that revealed that most tradespeople were actually unaware of the health risks posed by asbestos, and that they did not think about asking if there was any asbestos on the site they were working on.

Today, the best way to find out if there is asbestos in a building is to ask a company to carry out asbestos surveys. More and more companies have actually specialized in asbestos surveys as well as asbestos risk assessment and legionella risk assessment. About Author

The author is working for a company doing asbestos surveys, asbestos management but also legionella risk assessment.
http://www.coresurveys.co.uk/

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-paul-phlorum-9334.html

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Occupations at Risk From Asbestos Exposure

Exposure to dangerous asbestos fibers has caused the development of cancer in a variety of different employees and occupations over the years. The fibers, once inhaled or ingested, begin to scar the tissue inside of the body.

Mesothelioma: Occupations At Risk

Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that can be either malignant or benign. The malignant type of mesothelioma is the most hazardous form of cancer and may be deadly in most cases. This cancer affects the tissue mesothelium, which protects the heart, stomach, lungs, and other organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move.

Causes of Mesothelioma

Almost always this type of cancer is caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a kind of fiber present in insulation and building substances because of its resistance to heat, chemical damage, and electricity and is naked to the human eye. It is unclear how long the correlation between asbestos and mesothelioma has been known, but researchers have found some correlation between the two as recently as the 1960s.

Mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer where early diagnosis increases the amount of effective treatments. Unfortunately, due to the way it forms, the cancer may not manifest until anywhere between 20 to 50 years after an asbestos exposure. Regardless of when the asbestos exposure occurred, it is important to tell your doctor so that the correct diagnosis can be made.

Occupations At Risk

70 to 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases reported were because of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Because it takes anywhere between 20 to 50 years to manifest, occupations held in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and even into the 1970s may cause mesothelioma in lives today.

Such occupations may include:

* Auto Mechanics
* Blacksmiths
* Brake Mechanics
* Bulldozer Operators
* Carpenters
* Cement Finishers
* Construction Workers
* Drywall Tapers
* Electricians
* Foundry Workers
* Inspectors
* Insulators
* Janitors
* Mason Laborers
* Merchant Marine Seamen
* Millwrights
* Miners
* Navy Personnel
* Painters
* Pipe fitters and coverer's
* Plasterers
* Plumbers
* Railroad Workers
* Roofers
* Shipbuilders
* Welders

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some point in their life because there are low levels found in the air, water, and soil. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases typically manifest after a lengthy exposure, but in some cases a short intense exposure could cause a person to develop mesothelioma. For example, survivors, first responders, and those nearby at the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center may also be at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. These include firefighters, policeman, volunteers, paramedics, construction workers, and nearby residents.

Asbestos exposure that may lead to mesothelioma could also occur in non occupational exposure. Although the occurrence of mesothelioma is three times more common in men than women, some cases have been found in women and children whose exposure has been through contact with the clothing of those who worked with asbestos.

The Asbestos & Mesothelioma Cancer Resource Center at Asbestos.Net. About Author

Our editorial team includes an oncologist, a registered nurse, a social worker, a veterans' advocate, and more. And while only a physician can provide specific medical advice and treatment, we can offer information and support along the way.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com

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Call for the removal of Asbestos from school buildings

Since the dangerous material asbestos was banned from being used in building, there have been varying reports on the frequency of incidences of mesothelioma, the lung cancer that the material can cause in those who are exposed to it.

One of the strongest debates involves the question of safely removing the material from public buildings such as hospitals and schools. Recently, there has been a call for action by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) for the removal of asbestos from all schools within the UK. A programme by the BBC, ?Inside Out? screened in January 2009, made a Freedom of Information request to the government and discovered that in the South East of England, the presence of asbestos within school buildings was shockingly high, remaining in 90% of schools.

This revelation brings into debate the question of whether to remove, or not to remove the deadly substance from school buildings. According to the Health and safety Executive (HSE) the extraction process for removing asbestos sealed inside buildings would be dangerous in itself. However, the NUT has called for the removal of asbestos from all schools, with the Kent branch secretary stating that as long as local authorities do not remove the asbestos from schools there will be a risk of the fibres being inhaled into people?s lungs and causing illness.

After the Second World War, many schools were built using asbestos, and the majority of these have not yet been replaced. Worryingly, an independent asbestos consultant told the BBC that the incidence of teachers dying from asbestos related illnesses has been increasingly on the rise, to more than five every year. Could theses deaths have been prevented if there had been a more thorough asbestos management system in place within schools? Those schools which have exposed asbestos found in them are closed or cordoned off while the material is disposed of, but the HSE seeks to reassure that if asbestos is sealed in a building, unexposed then it represents no health risk. There is an argument that attempting to remove the asbestos may actually be more of a health risk.

If asbestos is found in a public place such as a school, then registered professional asbestos surveyors should be called in to carry out asbestos surveys. The removal of the material by someone untrained in the area can be done but isn?t advised in public buildings due to concerns with public health. If asbestos is found in either a home or workplace environment, it may be necessary to take a sample to identify the type; this can be done by most asbestos consultants. The most dangerous type of asbestos is blue crocidolite, which has been found in a small minority of school buildings in the South East of England.

The rise of cases of mesothelioma in teachers is being called just the tip of the iceberg of the problem. Many of the children who study at an affected school, or who did so in the past, will have been exposed to asbestos during their school lives too, meaning there are potentially thousands more cases of mesothelioma lying undiagnosed in the South east of England. About Author

The author is working for a company doing asbestos surveys. So if you need asbestos consultants or, asbestos management, have a look.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-robert-asbet-27262.html

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Asbestos Related Lung Cancer: Cause, Symptoms And Treatment

Asbestos related lung cancer, as the name itself indicates, is a type of lung cancer that is caused by the exposure to asbestos particles suspended in the air.

????????Asbestos related lung cancer, as the name itself indicates, is a type of lung cancer that is caused by the exposure to asbestos particles suspended in the air. In addition, smoking is also a cause of lung cancer. Mesothelioma is the most dangerous among all types of asbestos related lung cancers. Other thoracic carcinomas such as adeno carcinoma are also caused by exposure to asbestos.

Understanding the Risk Factors Associated with Asbestos Related Lung Cancer?

????????People have wrong assumptions about the cause of lung cancer. They generally believe that cigarette smoking is the cause of all types of lung cancers. This wide ignorance makes it more important to make them aware about the real cause of asbestos related lung cancer. Smoking definitely is an important factor but it is not the only cause of lung cancer.?

????????After conducting many studies, experts concluded that an individual is five times more at the risk of lung cancer if he or she is exposed to airborne asbestos particles. Those people who smoke but never exposed to asbestos particles face the risk of developing lung cancer ten times. Risk factor increases by fifty times when both smoking and exposure to asbestos particles is combined. This is why we have large incidences of asbestos related lung cancer.

One plus One Makes Eleven?

????????Thus, the mathematics of adding risk factors of asbestos related lung cancer is an altogether different proposition. When you add risk posed by asbestos exposure to the risk posed by cigarette smoking, it is like one plus one equal to eleven, rather than two.

Long Latency Period, Short Survival Time?

????????Like other asbestos related diseases, most unfortunate aspect of asbestos related lung cancer is its long latency period. Disease may lie dormant in the human body for decades after the exposure to asbestos particles. After diagnosis patient is left with very little survival period to fight the disease.

Symptoms of Asbestos Related Lung Cancer?

????????Symptoms of asbestos related lung cancer include cough, difficulty in breathing, chest pain and detection of new mass in chest x-ray report. Treatment options differ according to the stage of tumor. Surgical removal helps in increasing survival time when disease is diagnosed at an early stage. Radiation and chemotherapy are some other treatment options to cure asbestos related lung cancer in case of late diagnosis.

Legal Remedy for Asbestos Related Lung Cancer?

????????The treatment of asbestos related lung cancer is very expensive. However, the good news is that the patient suffering from asbestos related lung cancer could file lawsuits to seek compensation for the companies or individuals responsible for causing asbestos exposure. About Author

Kirsten Hawkins: Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-guest-6.html

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Asbestos related diseases

Asbestos is something very dangerous and a lot of people are still unaware of that. Asbestos surveys need to be carried into buildings if it has not be done yet in order to identify if asbestos was used or not in the building.

A recent survey carried out actually indicates that the highest risk of asbestos related lung illness in fact arises from insulation work in the United Kingdom. Epidemiologic work done by a professor called Peto has shown that in the first few years of the twenty first century we can keep on expecting a rise in the number of new cases of mesothelioma in Great Britain mainly due to asbestos. Mesotheliome really is a horrible cancer with a very long latency period.

In the United Kingdom, it presently causes more deaths than road traffic accidents and epidemiologists predict that a further one hundred thousand individuals would die from one type of asbestos cancer called mesothelioma in the coming years. When all types of asbestos-related diseases are gathered, the final death toll could be even higher than that previous number which is shocking.

Research into the treatment and care of this aggressive cancer in the United Kingdom is apparently in bad shape due to a lack of government help over the last years. In 2007 there was just one project dedicated to mesothelioma research funded by Cancer Research UK, but nothing by the Medical Research Council, despite the fact that between 1995 and 2004 the incidence rate of this disease in United Kingdom grew faster than any other cancer. Improvement have been made though with the availability of support for people suffering from mesothelioma by cancer charities throughout the United Kingdom.

Any delay in diagnosing mesothelioma can impact negatively on treatment options, since an early diagnosis is a key to achieving a better cure for the patient.
With the fact that patients are now getting older and are often diagnosed at a late stage of the disease. It becomes more and more urgent to use asbestos surveyors to carry out asbestos surveys.
It seems that other countries like Australia have done things differently when it comes to deal with asbestos related diseases. The Australian government actually committed millions of pounds for a research program which would help people suffering from those diseases.

It is very easy to find a company specializing in asbestos management. They would usually also do legionella risk assessment and asbestos awareness training. About Author

The author is working for a company doing asbestos surveys, legionella risk assessment but also asbestos management.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-paul-phlorum-9334.html

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How to Prevent Occupational Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestos is a generic name for a group of dangerous fibers used in the construction business. Asbestos fibers can separate and be easily inhaled, causing considerable damage to the lungs and other organs. Asbestos is a highly-regulated material and many occupational safety measures are in place to prevent exposure to it. Following are some steps for avoiding occupational exposure to asbestos.

Repair the free flowing fibrous area. Many issues arise because the area that contains the asbestos has been damaged and the fibers are freely floating through the air. Repairing the effected area may include wrapping the asbestos, removing it and replacing it with a newer, less harmful substance, or enclosing the effected area.

Wear a HEPA filtered respirator that has been individually fitted for you. There are many respirators on the market to choose from. A dust particle mask is not sufficient protection from the airborne fibers. You should wear a mask certified safe by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Consult an OSHA specialist for more information.

Wet the asbestos when working with it. Wet fibers are heavier and fall to the ground or don't free-flow in the air. The point is to not inhale the fibers, so making the fibers heavy will help prevent this.

Train the employees on the dangers of asbestos. A major part of both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is to prevent exposures in the workplace through education.

View the original article here

How much asbestos exposure will cause Mesothelioma?

How much asbestos exposure will cause Mesothelioma? This is probably the general question that is always asked by those health concious or those who have been exposed to asbestos.

Generally, the probability of developing this form of cancer is in accordance with the length of time you are exposed to asbestos. Also, your health is at risk if your exposure to asbestos is intense. It should be noted that Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years.

This means that you may develop the disease long after your exposure to asbestos. On average, people tend to develop Mesothelioma somewhere between 35 and 40 years after exposure.

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ADAO Applauds Assembly Committee on Natural Resources for Passing Resolution to Repeal the Designation of Asbestos Laden Serpentine as the California State Rock

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauds both Senator Gloria Romero for authoring SB 624 and the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources for passing this legislation to remove serpentine, the host rock of asbestos, as California’s official state rock, supporting the eradication of asbestos to promote public health.

“ADAO dedicates our efforts on this campaign to Army Archerd, prolific Daily Variety journalist who died from mesothelioma in September 2009”

“California has the highest rate of mesothelioma deaths in the nation,” said Senator Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles). “This bill is about raising awareness to protect the health of our citizens. Serpentine contains asbestos, a known carcinogen. Toxic materials have no place serving as emblems for the State.”

Asbestos causes cancers and respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer that claim 10,000 people every year in the United States and nearly 100,000 people worldwide. In 1965, serpentine was designated as the state rock of California in order to promote the then-lucrative asbestos mining industry. A practically indestructible lethal fiber, asbestos has been used for decades in numerous industries throughout California including building construction and naval shipyards, as well as in common household products ranging from crayons to blow dryers. Though asbestos is banned in 52 countries, it is not banned in the United States.

“ADAO dedicates our efforts on this campaign to Army Archerd, prolific Daily Variety journalist who died from mesothelioma in September 2009,” said Linda Reinstein, CEO and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. “A longtime fixture on the red carpet, Army’s death is unfortunately not unique and the death toll will continue until the United States Congress passes legislation banning asbestos. More than 7,000 Californians have died from asbestos-related diseases.”

On behalf of asbestos victims and their families, the John McNamara Foundation, and The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, ADAO applauds our political leaders as this legislation moves forward to repeal serpentine as the state rock.

Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is the largest independent organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education and legislation. ADAO’s mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing asbestos awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for asbestos-related disease. For more information visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.

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Posted: Friday, June 25th, 2010 at 9:42 am; filed under Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), Asbestos Legislation, Organizations.

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Annual Asbestos Awareness Day Grows into a Global Asbestos Awareness Week

For more than a hundred years, knowledge of asbestos’ risks has been well documented. However, despite the seemingly widespread understanding that asbestos exposure kills, it was only seven years ago, on April 1, 2005 that the first "National Asbestos Awareness Day" was held.

Perhaps even more amazing is the comparatively short chain of events starting, in June of 2003, that led to asbestos awareness day.

Linda Reinstein had never heard of the mesothelioma when her husband, Alan, was diagnosed with it on the day after Father’s Day, June 16, 2003.

While on vacation, Alan began suffering from a cough that wouldn’t go away. Upon his return home, a trip to his doctor revealed a pleural effusion. Discovery of the pleural effusion led to a series of tests, misdiagnoses, and finally—after nine months—surgery.

The thoracic surgeon who performed the surgery found Linda in the waiting room; "are you alone?" he asked. Her heart sank.

The surgeon informed Linda that Alan had mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. He asked her if Alan had ever worked with asbestos.

"I had never heard of mesothelioma. I couldn’t pronounce it. And worse yet, I found that there was no cure," Linda recalls.

After surviving surgery to remove his left lung, pericardium, and diaphragm, Alan returned home to his wife and young daughter, Emily, to begin his recovery.

One day after coming home from school, the Reinstein’s 11-year-old daughter announced she wanted to go to Washington to "tell Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein how hard it is for a girl who’s just 11 to watch her dad suffer."

"At that time, looking back," Linda says, "I had no clue how our life would change."

Linda and Emily traveled to Washington, asking for change. They hoped to prevent others from ending up in their position: watching a loved one die from a preventable cancer. They attending meetings with a photo of Emily and Alan dancing, and pointed out the dances and events asbestos exposure would rob from their family.

It was outside of these meetings, however, that Linda began to realize just how serious the problem of asbestos exposure was.

"It didn’t matter if we were standing in line for a Starbucks coffee or waiting for a taxi on our first trip, everywhere I went someone would say ‘are you just here for vacation?’" After explaining Alan’s diagnosis, inevitably the other person would share their own story of family member who had been diagnosed with an asbestos disease.

Linda found that asbestos diseases were not as rare as she had perviously been told, "they are just underreported."

Frustrated by the number of people injured by asbestos, the long history of knowledge about asbestos’ risks, and the lack of a ban on asbestos in products, the Reinstein’s took action. On April 1, 2004, less than a year after Alan’s mesothelioma diagnosis, Linda Reinstein co-founded the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO).

Among the goals of the ADAO was to "educate the medical community and concerned citizens regarding early detection, prevention, treatment and a cure for asbestos related diseases."

One year later, in 2005, the ADAO proposed a resolution designating April 1 as "National Asbestos Awareness Day." Nevada Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Tennessee Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) brought the resolution before the Senate Judiciary.

This year, nine Senators were listed as cosponsors and key supporters for the resolution declaring the first week of April as "National Asbestos Awareness Week."

Alan Reinstein lost his battle with mesothelioma in May of 2006. Surviving just shy of three years following his diagnosis was actually remarkable considering the 6-12 months most mesothelioma patients are estimated to have following a diagnosis.

After his death, Linda wondered "what now? Alan’s gone. Do we just give up with asbestos and mesothelioma?" However, remembering the promise Emily and Linda made to Alan to achieve a ban on asbestos, she reflected on what they’d deemed the Reinstein’s family motto: "Reinstein’s don’t give up."

"We persevered. We’ve now become the largest asbestos victims organization in the United States."

The US and Canada remain the only industrialized countries that have not banned asbestos. Despite not yet achieving a US ban on asbestos, the ADAO continues to work with victims, communities, and legislators increasing awareness of asbestos’ dangers, protecting the rights of victims, and working toward an asbestos ban.

This year, the ADAO will host its Seventh Annual International Asbestos Conference on April 1-3, 2011 in Atlanta, GA. Experts, patients, and their families will discuss the public health, environmental, and economic impacts of asbestos.

Thanks to growing interest in Asbestos Awareness Day, what was once a single day, has now grown into a "Global Asbestos Awareness Week." From an ADAO press release: "What started as a day has grown into a full week of international activities incorporating education, advocacy and community driven efforts to fuel a worldwide ban on asbestos and provide resources and hope to asbestos victims and their families."

For Emily and Linda Reinstein, the journey must seem long, lengthened by the pain of loss and the frustratingly slow winds of change. However, for the millions of people injured by asbestos over the last 150 years, the Reinstein have, in just a few short years, brought new levels of awareness, education, and research to legislators and the public, and hope to asbestos victims and their families.

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Posted: Monday, March 28th, 2011 at 5:38 pm; filed under Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), Asbestos Legislation, Full Archive, Organizations.

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You should know about the removal of asbestos.

In supply discovered mineral asbestos building insulation, roof, floor tile, acoustical ceilings, ceiling tiles, thousands of other materials. 1970'S was used for both asbestos products residential and commercial building. Asbestos is fibrous mineral building materials very popular products is the high good insulating qualities and great tensile strength, heat resistance. Asbestos removal asbestos-containing products good that remain as long as they usually aren't dangerous, don't have. However, that the worsening state of these products, so most likely small microscopic asbestos fibres are released into the air.

Asbestos fibers become airborne and unsuspecting people by inhaling lungs can help. Asbestos exposure and lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma has no known cure, has been causing some lung diseases. A when there is threat of airborne asbestos fibers asbestos removal will soon become necessary. It is important to prevent these fatal fibers from the abatement of asbestos is released they inhaled it is pleasant. Of asbestos-containing products is extremely dangerous substances is why.

Asbestos removal trained professionals, but is usually performed in sometimes saves money for homeowners. However, are not following the strict rules are serious irreversible health problems so lightly asbestos removal work is to be taken. Asbestos recession business professionals know how to remove the risk to understand and properly inspected, and defective product. They used to safely during the deletion process, special protective clothing and equipment.

If you suspect's home or other building is the existence of this pollutant collects samples to test in the laboratory. Microscopic examination of these products are dangerous whether or not to determine is the only surefire way. Confirms the presence of asbestos has two choices. If the product is in good condition is that they are usually no risk be left undisturbed. But fiber can be released is not a good product if it asbestos removal and immediately want to hire a company to perform processing.

Sealing area not escape is an experienced asbestos removal contract first, contain asbestos, while plastic seal area in order to verify that you are. They are protective clothing, gloves, boots, only, as well as wear a breathing mask and goggles. Prior deletion process because asbestos fiber air dry to wet asbestos always. Placed in special bags can securely transfer product from theft or delete depending on the processing site.

Asbestos removal work is based on the laws and regulations, can be dangerous if the Government has not. It is important to read before doing their work, understanding, and all regulations and safety procedures to follow. If your goal to save money, always get estimates from multiple licenses and certified hazardous materials contractor and their prices and compare costs of their work. Job with may surprise you is that you can on your own professional jobs than more expensive. Hard to remove asbestos, dirty, dangerous work are usually licensed professional entrusted to you.

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Smoking and Lung Cancer Not the End of the Story: Asbestos and Smoking Create an Incredibly Deadly Combination

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011.

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, resulting in 1.4 million deaths annually1. In the US, more than 150,000 deaths resulted from lung cancer in 20102. Although lung cancer can have numerous causes, smoking is a huge and well-known contributor to lung cancer deaths, with some 90% of all lung cancer cases a result of smoking tobacco.

While there can be no discounting smoking’s ill health effects, the flood of information on smoking’s risks can drown out other causes of lung cancer. A recent study in The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, a research journal on hazards and risks to health resulting from work, highlights another contributor to lung cancer: asbestos.

Asbestos as a cause of lung cancer is often ignored because of smoking. One reason for this is readily revealed in “The effect of smoking on the risk of lung cancer mortality for asbestos workers in Great Britain (1971-2005)”: among asbestos workers, smoking is more common than in the general population. The study followed asbestos workers from 1971 until 2005, at which point some 53% of asbestos workers were still active smokers. In contrast, 45% of the general population in Great Britain smoked in 1971, and that number dropped to 24% by 2005.

While either cigarette smoking or asbestos may be the cause of lung cancer, together, they create an exceptionally high risk. One cannot simply add the risk associated with each carcinogen together and determine the risk that the two create in individuals exposed to both.

This synergistic connection between asbestos and smoking is well known among researchers who specialize in studies like the one cited above. In fact, a September 2010 journal article covering asbestos workers in China (“Lung cancer mortality from exposure to chrysotile asbestos and smoking: a case control study within a cohort in China”) found that the total risk of lung cancer was one and a half times what would be expected if the risk associated with smoking and the risk associated with asbestos exposure were added together3.

In the Chinese study, no completely unexposed control group was compared to asbestos exposed and/or smoking groups studies. Other studies that have compared non-asbestos exposed, non-smoking workers to asbestos exposed, smoking workers found the latter group fifty or more times likely to develop lung cancer over the former group4.

While researchers may be aware of this deadly mix, many primary care physicians are unaware of these connections. Without a thorough patient history, the connection between a patient’s lung cancer and their asbestos exposure may never be made, especially if they smoked. Unfortunately, with a smoker, many people, doctors included, stop looking at other culprits for a patient’s lung cancer. It’s important to note, however, that although smoking is a great risk factor in a lung cancer diagnosis, only 10% of smokers will develop lung cancer.

Asbestos attorneys see thousands of people diagnosed with lung cancer each year, and Dave Chervenick is no exception. A shareholder at Goldberg, Persky, and White, a law firm that has specialized in asbestos cases for more than 30 years, Chervenick notes “If there was one thing I could impress upon our clients with lung cancer, it’s that smoking doesn’t negate your asbestos exposure, and in fact, it’s an important factor related to it.”

Many of Chervenick’s asbestos lung cancer clients were already suffering from another asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis, before being diagnosed. “When one of our asbestosis clients later develops lung cancer, it’s a little easier for them to see the connection,” Chervenick explains, “however, you don’t have to have asbestosis to develop lung cancer.”

Asbestosis is a scarring of the lung tissues resulting from breathing in asbestos fibers. The small, sharp, and indestructible asbestos bodies lodge in the lungs, causing a buildup of scar tissue that makes it hard for the lungs to expand and contract and complete their job of exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen.

Asbestosis definitively reveals that you’ve been exposed to asbestos, and because of that, indicates you’re at increased risk of developing an asbestos-related lung cancer. The number of lung cancer cases attributable to asbestos exposure each year in the US is estimated at 3,400 to 8,500. It is likely higher however, thanks to poor tracking mechanisms and a lack of complete worker histories.

It is also not unusual for a worker to be unaware they worked with asbestos. “I’ve had people tell me they don’t believe they ever handled asbestos products,” Chervenick says, “however, after I mention a particular brand of insulation, or a type of sealer, they’ll say ‘well, yes, I worked with that.’ Well, that item contained 10%, or 30%, or even 50% asbestos.”

In order to reduce the risk among asbestos workers and smokers, eliminating exposure to both is recommended. Some studies indicate a reduction in the risk of lung cancer within five years of smoking cessation. The numbers associated with removing asbestos exposure vary, but researchers note “that even if the risk of lung cancer does not decrease following cessation of asbestos exposure, removal from exposure would prevent cumulative dosage.” 1

In Great Britain, researchers estimate that smoking and/or asbestos exposure result in 96% of lung cancer deaths. Using that guideline on worldwide deaths, that could mean more than 1.3 million lives could be saved from lung cancer if smoking and asbestos were eliminated.

Gillian Frost, Andrew Darnton, and Anne-Helen Harding. “The effect of smoking on the risk of lung cancer mortality for asbestos workers in Great Britain (1971–2005).” The Annals of Occupational Hygiene. First published online January 20, 2011 doi:10.1093/annhyg/meq089.SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Lung and Bronchus. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results; National Cancer Institute.
Accessed March 22, 2011.Eiji Yano, Xiaorong Wang, Mianzhen Wang, Hong Qiu, and Zhiming Wang. "Lung cancer mortality from exposure to chrysotile asbestos and smoking: a case control study within a cohort in China." Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2010;67:867e871. doi:10.1136/oem.2009.051615 Hammond, E. C., Selikoff, I. J. and Seidman, H. (1979). “Asbestos Exposure, Cigarette Smoking and Death Rates.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 330: 473-790. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1979.tb18749.x « Mesothelioma News Main Page.

Posted: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 at 4:34 pm; filed under Asbestos & Mesothelioma Studies.

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