Mesothelioma and the Effects of Asbestos Exposure

With the recent trial involving W.R. Grace & Company, the federal government and the citizens of Libby, Montana, the topic of asbestos-related illness is receiving additional national attention. There are approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year in the United States and those numbers are expected to climb in the near future.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. In some cases though, reports have documented a small number of patients that have contracted the disease without ever being exposed to asbestos fibers.

Exposure occurs when the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos are either inhaled or ingested into the body. This typically happens after asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and release asbestos fibers into the air.

In the past, some of the more common locations for asbestos exposure (predominantly for men) have included the construction, shipyard, railroad, power plant, chemical plant, manufacturing, mining and automotive industries.

However, other indirect cases of asbestos exposure, known as secondary exposure, have affected the lives of women and children. Many of the men who worked with asbestos would unknowingly carry home asbestos fibers on their skin and clothes, exposing their wives, children and friends to the toxic mineral. To date, secondary exposure has been responsible for an impactful portion of malignant mesothelioma cases.

Diagnosing this disease can be an extremely difficult task, as many of the symptoms patients often experience will resemble those of minor and more common health conditions. In addition, the severe latency period associated with mesothelioma (usually ranging anywhere from 20 to 50 years) can allow the disease to progress to later stages of development by the time diagnosis occurs.

Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety Commission have instilled strict regulations concerning asbestos, even though not all asbestos material is banned. Products that contain 1 percent or more asbestos fiber are considered to be asbestos-containing.

Those who suspect asbestos in their home or workplace should speak with an asbestos consultant. Approximately 80 percent of homes built before 1980 are likely to contain some amount of asbestos. It is important to note that if intact and stable, asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health threat as long as they are routinely checked for potential damage.

Additional information on mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Asbestos Activist to Raise Mesothelioma Awareness by Cycling 1,200 Miles

An asbestos campaigner in Great Britain is preparing for a 1,200 mile bicycle journey in hopes of raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Jason Addy, an activist with the organization Save Spodden Valley, hopes to raise money to be donated to the search for a cure for asbestos-related cancers. Addy will be joined by two friends and plans to cycle through parts of the country that have been greatly impacted by asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma.

The journey will begin in the town of Glasgow on June 20, 2009 and will conclude in Southampton on July 4. Addy says he cannot wait for the lengthy trip to begin.

“It will be tough going as we will be cycling up to 100 miles a day, but it is for a very important cause and promises to be a breathtaking journey to raise awareness of the legacy caused by asbestos,” Addy said.

Asbestos is a toxic mineral and was widely used throughout the 20th century in various products and industries. Although it is a naturally occurring substance, exposure to asbestos can be extremely dangerous. Inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers can result in the development of serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and other forms of lung cancer.

Since mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, a mesothelioma diagnosis can be very difficult. In many cases, treatment is limited and prognosis is poor.

The high amount of mesothelioma cases in Great Britain has lead to many community projects created to promote awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Save Spodden Valley campaigners recently held a private meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss ways to educate the public and provide more funding for asbestos-related research.

Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases remain at the top of all occupational illnesses in the United Kingdom, yet little research funding is dedicated to battle these preventable cancers.

Additional information about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma and may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Asbestos Violations Result in Fines for Oregon City

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined the city of Central Point $815 for violating several asbestos-related regulations.

Though only a small amount of asbestos was found in the debris remaining from the demolition of a 100-year-old house in February 2009, the city was given three multipart citations for issues ranging from not informing employees of the potential presence of asbestos to not providing adequate training and clothing to workers handling asbestos-contaminated materials.

“Basically, they were supposed to have told the employees there was potentially asbestos there or that the material could have contained asbestos. They were then supposed to have actually tested for it before they started working,” said Oregon OSHA spokesperson Melanie Mesaros.

Asbestos exposure is a concern because serious health conditions may develop as a result of inhaling or ingesting toxic asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.

According to Public Works Director Bob Pierce, rules for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and OSHA were reviewed prior to demolition by city officials who noted that the site was exempt from most regulations according to DEQ standards.

Employees involved in the demolition were instructed to sprinkle water over the site if dust was present. The site was also examined by a city building official who determined the structure was unlikely to contain asbestos-contaminated materials.

“The outcome was we made some mistakes and we fessed up to those and were fined $815,” stated Pierce. “We take our employee safety very seriously. We went out there thinking we had done everything the way it should have been done.”

Inspectors visited the site and found minimal debris remaining for testing as most had already been buried.

“They tested for three types of stuff — roofing, tile and linoleum — and one sample had less than 1 percent (asbestos). So we didn’t expose anybody to asbestos from what I can determine here, but there were other steps we should have taken,” Pierce added.

Pierce noted that the city will now utilize contractors for demolition projects.

Additional information about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.