How Real Are Asbestos Health Risks?

 

 

The lungs are some of the most indispensable organs in the human body. Without them, it would be impossible to take in the life giving oxygen that makes human life possible.

 

Unfortunately, there are many diseases and even substances which can seriously impact the health of the lungs. One of the more well known of these dangerous products is known as Asbestos, and its health risks have been well documented for at least the past half century.

 

This article will provide information on the subject for those that may not have heard much about the many dangers of Asbestos. Along the way, questions that are relevant to the subject will be answered. These are, what is asbestos? How do asbestos health risks tend to develop? What are some of the dangerous medical conditions that have been linked to asbestos exposure?

 

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is an extremely fibrous rock forming mineral that is found in at least 6 varieties. These are often identified by their color, including blue, brown, white, and green asbestos.

 

Asbestos has been mined for thousands of years due to its many valuable properties. These include resistance to fire, high tensile strength, sound absorption, and relative inexpensiveness.

 

How Do Asbestos Health Risks Tend To Develop?

Asbestos fibers come in two basic classes: serpentine, and amphibole. Serpentine fibers are curly in shape, while amphibole type fibers are needle-like in shape.

 

Macroscopic asbestos fibers are visible to the naked eye, but each individual visible fiber is made up of millions of smaller fibers that cannot be seen with the naked eye. If the asbestos in question is disturbed in some way such as being abraded or torn, millions of these microscopic asbestos fibrils are released into the air. They are capable of hanging in the air for long periods of time, all the while being inhaled or swallowed by anyone present.

 

Microscopic and razor sharp asbestos fibrils that are ingested tend to become deeply lodged in the tissues of organs such as the lungs, stomach, and intestine. Here, they continually cut into the surrounding tissues, causing damage and ushering in the arrival of several deadly illnesses.

 

There are actually a significant number of class action lawsuits involving victims of asbestos exposure in litigation at this moment, so people with asbestos related illnesses would do well to contact their attorney, like those at Cohen, Placitella, Roth, for an immediate consultation.

 

What Are Some Dangerous Illnesses Related To Asbestos Exposure?

There are several potentially fatal illnesses that are related to exposure to asbestos. The most common ones are Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, and Lung Cancer.

 

Asbestosis is the least serious of these diseases. This condition causes inflammation of the lungs, and is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and even permanent lung damage.

 

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is distinct from lung cancer. It can affect the lining of the lungs, heart, abdomen, and the testes. Lung Cancer is a disease that needs no introduction. Sustained exposure to high levels of airborne asbestos has been shown to greatly increase the odds of contracting this disease.

 

While asbestos has been removed from many structures, its use was so widespread that there is still a lot of it lurking around. This means that for the time being, the risks of exposure remain. Anyone who has been exposed to airborne asbestos and is experiencing symptoms consistent with any of the aforementioned illnesses should contact their doctor immediately.

 

Categories: airborne asbestos, asbestos, asbestos exposure, asbestos fibers, asbestos fibrils, asbestos health, health, Health Risks, lung cancer, naked eye, Risks, risks tend

The 5 Most Common Causes of Lung Disease & How to Avoid Them

 

Lung disease, whatever form it takes, is an insidious condition. Diseases which affect the lungs take a long time to manifest, then take an equally long time to make a person very ill. With the exception of obvious causes like smoking, most people aren’t even aware they’re inhaling toxins into their lungs. The best way to protect yourself from lung disease is to be educated about the causes of lung disease and what you can do to avoid them:

 

1. Smoking

This is easy. The damage smoking causes to the lungs (among other organs) has been well-documented and discussed for ages. Fortunately for those who smoke, the damage can be almost completely undone after quitting. For smokers, ten years without tobacco usually reduces the risk of lung cancer to that of a non-smoker.

 

2. Black Mold and Other Airborne Pathogens

Black mold is a common household annoyance. If the infestation is light, a homeowner can remove the black mold themselves. If it’s heavy, a professional might need to be called in. In the worst cases, the house may become uninhabitable. This is what happened to many houses after Hurricane Sandy. Adam Robertson, a specialist from The Cleaner Image Dryer Vent Services, says that while most black mold and airborne pathogens can be removed with routine housecleaning, certain pathogens require special venting of the infested home’s vents.

 

3. Radon

Radon is a tasteless, odorless and colorless gas which is a byproduct of the breakdown of uranium. Radon can seep up from the ground into a crawlspace or basement and, from there, leak into the house. A homeowner who believes they have a radon problem should have the home tested. If the radon is above a certain level, it can be removed by a professional radon abatement service. But, if radon levels are fairly low, sometimes all it takes is giving the house a good airing out by opening doors and windows and turning on fans.

 

4. Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos can lead to a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs called mesothelioma. It can also lead to asbestosis, a slightly less serious lung disease. Asbestos was banned as a building material in the United States in the 1980s, but some older homes may still contain asbestos. It can be found in paint, insulation, roof shingles or flooring. It’s harmless as long as it’s undisturbed, but a homeowner who wants to do a renovation and suspects they may have asbestos in the home should call in an asbestos professional first.

 

5. The Flu

The flu, though often seen as only slightly worse than the common cold, has the potential to damage a person’s lungs permanently. Seniors, children, and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of developing lung disease from the flu virus. Those in the at-risk groups should be sure to get a yearly flu shot to minimize their chances of catching the flu.

 

These five causes can wreak havoc on a person’s body, inflicting permanent damage and putting them at risk of lung disease. All of these causes, however, can be avoided or corrected through precautionary action and professional assistance.

Categories: airborne pathogens, asbestos, avoid, black mold, Causes, common, Disease, long time, lung, lung disease, nbsp, radon

Mesothelioma: The Risks and Symptoms

It has only been within the last decade or so that the dangers of asbestos have been brought to the public’s attention. Until recently, most buildings, even schools and hospitals, utilized asbestos as insulation. Once the dangers of this material were revealed, government agencies acted quickly to remove it from most public buildings. Even so, this prompt action was too late for many people who were exposed to asbestos regularly throughout their lifetimes.

 

Many of these individuals now are at risk of developing or currently suffer from mesothelioma. One NY mesothelioma lawyer states that ”each year thousands in NY alone are still being diagnosed.” This form of cancer also is gaining recognition throughout society. As people continue to learn more about mesothelioma, they may be more proactive when they learn about its symptoms and the risks it could pose to their health.

 

Symptoms

In its earliest stages, mesothelioma and its symptoms mimic that of a cold or a bad case of bronchitis. Indeed, sufferers may notice that they are short of breath, suffer from wheezing, and have chest tightness. Even more, these individuals may suffer from chronic coughing that is painful and does not respond to cough syrup or other cold remedies.

 

However, as their symptoms progress, people might notice more physical changes that point to the onset of this dangerous type of cancer. People with mesothelioma may notice changes like:

 

• Swelling of their abdomens

• Pain in their stomachs and rib cage areas

• Weight loss

• Lumps in their stomachs or armpits

• Lumps under the skin of their chests

 

If they notice any of these physical changes, people are advised to see their doctors immediately so that they can be tested and properly diagnosed with this illness.

 

 

Risks

Once they are diagnosed with mesothelioma, sufferers may wonder about this illness’s risks and their prognoses. The risks of this illness can be directly pinpointed to exposure to certain chemicals, most notably asbestos. Their exposure could have risen in several different ways, including going to school in a building that used asbestos in its insulation, living with someone who worked with this material, or working in a factory that used this material in its production.

 

Unfortunately, hindsight of the dangers of asbestos does little to improve the prognoses of people who suffer from mesothelioma. However, this hindsight has proven vital in reducing and even eliminating this material’s use in other buildings today.

 

People who now suffer from mesothelioma often wonder about their futures and whether or not they can survive this condition. Most physicians treat this illness like any other form of cancer and suggest patients go through treatments that have otherwise proven successful with other forms of cancer. Mesothelioma patients may recover or prolong their survival by undergoing treatments like:

 

• Surgical removal of tumors

• Chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells

• Radiation therapy

• Immunotherapy to boost immune response

 

These treatment options are the most popular available today, although doctors continue to work on new solutions to the problem of mesothelioma. People who want to know more about mesothelioma and how they or their loved ones developed this condition can be more proactive about their healthcare decisions by learning about its symptoms and what risks cause this condition to develop.

 

Writer Melanie Fleury has watched cancer take the lives of several family members. She learned more about how asbestos can cause mesothelioma at the website of NY mesothelioma lawyer David Perecman.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/navfac/8715085022/

Categories: asbestos, mesothelioma, mesothelioma lawyer, nbsp, ny mesothelioma, people, Risks, Symptoms

What is the link Between Asbestos and Lung Cancer?

Former England football player Ian Wright is the face of a new campaign to reduce the number of asbestos-related deaths, which have been increasing in numbers over the past few years. The campaign is being carried out by the Health and safety Executive, labelled Asbestos: The Hidden Killer, and has found that 20 tradesmen a week die in the UK from asbestos damaging the lungs. This is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, with more than 4000 deaths a year attributed to this toxic substance. The diseases caused by it include mesothelioma, which is a type of cancer that attacks the membrane around the lung, and the same form of lung cancer that’s caused by smoking. Many of these deaths are amongst tradesmen such as builders, plumbers and electricians, who are exposed to it in homes around the country. The campaign hope to raise awareness of the issue and help to limit the risk of this happening more.

 

According to the HSE there are many workers who don’t realise the risk they are exposed to each day, mainly because asbestos was banned many years ago. However, there are many buildings which still have it present – this poses a significant risk to people’s health. If buildings were constructed or refurbished before 2000, then it is likely that they may have asbestos in them. It’s thought that around half a million buildings have it present in them. If a home or building has asbestos in it, and the fibres are disturbed by building work, for example, then the deadly dust could be inhaled either by tradesmen or by the people living in the building. The campaign states that the importance lies in educating tradespeople on the dangers of asbestos and how it is relevant to them. Changing the way they work could save their lives – campaigners hope that promoting the issue could help this take place. Tom King, 64, developed the life-threatening mesothelioma when his lungs were exposed to the dangerous asbestos on a job when we was working as a carpenter. He’d had no training in how to remove it, so he used to just throw it in skips when he found it in buildings. After having terrible chest pains and breathlessness in 2006, he visited his doctor – after having x-ray, it was diagnosed that he had mesothelioma. There is no cure for this form of cancer, but chemotherapy and radiotherapy can prolong life and improve your symptoms.

If you work in places that could be more at risk, then there are ways to reduce your risk. To begin with, you should contact the HSE for advice. You should avoid working with asbestos where you can, and if you’re not sure if it is present you should find out before beginning the job. Your boss or client should tell you if there is asbestos present before you begin work. Only a licensed contractor should deal with asbestos that’s present in sprayed coating, board or on pipes and boilers. You can only continue to work where asbestos is present if you’ve had training and you’re using the right equipment. To ensure that you minimise the dust from asbestos, use hand tools instead of power tools, and keep your materials damp but not wet. Cleaning up as you go with a vacuum cleaner can help to minimise the dust in the air and on your equipment, too. Proper masks that are suited to this kind of work are best used at all times as well.

Categories: asbestos, asbestos exposure, buildings, Campaigns, lung cancer, present, related deaths, risk, work

Could Asbestos Actually be a Risk to Us?

If you are an avid reader of the news both nationally and globally the chances are high that you will regularly read another asbestos related article. On vary rare occasions there may be something positive such as a change to litigation or a new form of treatment for one of the many illnesses that it can cause. With all this bad press and media coverage it is easy to understand that many carry genuine concerns about their health due to past and future exposure to the product but a question that is very rarely answered is if we are actually at risk of developing an asbestos related illness.

 

First things first, have you worked with asbestos? If the answer is yes then we need to discuss years in which you were exposed as well as the amount of time for. If you worked with the material any time during the 1930′s-1980′s the chances are high that you were not provided with the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and furthermore the correct safety measures were probably not undertaken to reduce the risk to yourself. What this means is that you could have potentially inhaled hazardous asbestos fibres and may be susceptible to developing a chronic health issue.

 

Asbestos related illnesses have lengthy latency periods meaning that they can take anywhere from between 10-55 years for symptoms to surface, this causes a multitude of other issues including the fact that many asbestos related conditions are extremely difficult to diagnose. Mesothelioma is possibly the most discussed asbestos related illness as it is considered to be the most dangerous. Mesothelioma is almost always fatal and once diagnosed a patient will generally be given a life expectancy no longer than around 18 months.

 

If you have worked with asbestos it is in your best interest to visit your GP when possible to explain the situation and scan for any asbestos fibres that could be hanging around in the body. Asbestos has the potential to lead to chronic illnesses even with only brief exposure however the risk alongside the times spent working with it.

 

Anyone in the UK who works with asbestos is required by law to have a license which differentiates a worker trained in asbestos handling from those who do not. There are strict guidelines in place to protect not only employees welfare but also that of the general public.

 

If you have not worked with asbestos the risk factor decreases significantly however there are still a number of concerns that you should be aware of. During the 20^th century asbestos was mass produced to be used an an insulator within the construction industry this meant that thousands of homes built during this era contained and still contain asbestos.

 

Whilst the house is maintained and kept in good condition the asbestos is relatively safe however it is during times of renovation or if the building has fell into dismay that the asbestos may become damaged and therefore develops into a risk that should be addressed immediately. If asbestos is present in your home you will probably find it in the form of either AIB’s (asbestos insulation boards) found usually in loft space and the cavity of the walls or Spray on insulation which is often located surrounding pipes and plumbing.

 

If you fear that asbestos may be present in your home it is possible to have a licensed asbestos professional take a look and perform a survey to put your mind at ease. Regulations and litigation surrounding the hazardous material are constantly being updated with the welfare of the public at the forefront of the governing bodies mind. The possibility of ever coming into contact with an product that contains asbestos are becoming slimmer by the day and cases of asbestos related illnesses are scheduled to peak around 2020 then slowly decrease until asbestos related illnesses become a thing of the past.

 

Author Bio:

Wrote by Adam Howard. Adam is an authority on asbestos and his aim is through his writing is to give advice to hopefully reduce the risk of exposure to this dangerous substance. He writes for Atrium Legal who help workers who are now suffering from asbestos related illnesses due to their job.

Categories: asbestos, hazardous material, risk