Asbestos and Your Health – What You Need to Know

Asbestos and Your Health – What You Need to Know

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral once widely used in construction, insulation, and many household products. While its heat-resistant properties made it a popular material, asbestos exposure is now recognized as a serious health hazard.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos refers to a group of minerals made of microscopic fibers. When disturbed, these fibers can become airborne and easily inhaled, posing significant health risks.

Health Risks of Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to several dangerous health conditions, including:

• Asbestosis: A chronic lung disease that causes scarring of lung tissue and difficulty breathing.

• Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.

• Lung Cancer: The risk of lung cancer increases significantly for those exposed to asbestos, especially smokers.

• Other Cancers: Asbestos exposure has also been linked to cancers of the larynx, ovary, and gastrointestinal tract.
  
  

Who Is at Risk?

People working in construction, shipyards, or industries using asbestos-containing materials are at the highest risk. However, anyone living or working in a building with aging asbestos materials can be exposed, especially during renovations or demolitions.

Prevention and Safety

• Do Not Disturb: Never try to remove asbestos-containing materials yourself. Always hire licensed professionals.

• Regular Inspections: If your home or workplace was built before the 1980s, consider having it inspected for asbestos.

• Protective Gear: Workers dealing with asbestos must use proper protective equipment and follow safety regulations.

Conclusion

Asbestos is a hidden danger that can have life-threatening consequences. Awareness, prevention, and professional handling are essential to protect yourself and your loved ones.

5 Hidden Sources of Asbestos in Everyday Life

Introduction

Asbestos is a word that often brings to mind old buildings or construction sites, but did you know it can still be found in unexpected places today? While many countries have banned or restricted the use of asbestos, millions of people worldwide are still exposed to this hazardous material without realizing it. Here are five hidden sources of asbestos you might encounter in daily life.

1. Vintage Household Items

Many household products manufactured before the 1980s contained asbestos for its heat-resistant properties. Old ironing boards, hairdryers, and even oven mitts may contain asbestos fibers. If you enjoy collecting or using vintage items, be cautious and research before using them.

2. Automobile Parts

Brakes, clutches, and gaskets in older vehicles are common sources of asbestos exposure. Even today, some imported parts may still contain asbestos. Mechanics and car enthusiasts should always wear protective gear and work in well-ventilated areas when handling old car parts.

3. Textured Paints and Popcorn Ceilings

Textured paints, ceiling tiles, and popcorn ceilings installed before the 1990s often included asbestos for fireproofing and durability. Renovating or removing these materials without proper safety measures can release harmful fibers into the air.

4. Construction Materials

Insulation, floor tiles, roofing materials, and cement pipes made before asbestos bans are still present in many homes and public buildings. If your property was built before 1990, consider professional asbestos testing before starting any renovations.

5. Talcum Powder and Cosmetic Products

Surprisingly, asbestos can be found in some talc-based products, including baby powder and cosmetics. This happens when talc is mined near asbestos deposits. Always check product safety certifications and opt for brands that test for asbestos contamination.

Conclusion

Awareness is the first step in protecting yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of asbestos. If you suspect your home or products may contain asbestos, consult a certified professional for testing and removal.
Stay informed and stay safe!

Asbestos in Taconite Mining

Taconite is a very hard rock that is found in several different regions across the United States, especially Minnesota. It is a sedimentary rock that is layered with quartz, carbonate, and other materials, including iron. In fact, taconite consists of over 15% iron, which now makes it appealing to mining companies and steel manufacturers. However, scientists are investigating taconite due to the presence of fibrous materials like asbestos.

Once, the hard taconite rock was considered waste in the pursuit of iron ore. However, with the high-grade iron ore sources becoming depleted, it is now financially viable to extract iron from taconite. There are several different steps that plants use to turn taconite into iron:

Blast the taconite into small piecesTransport it to the processing plantCrush and grind the taconite until it is powderyUse magnets to pick up iron from the taconite powderGet rid of extra rock fragments that did not contain ironRoll the iron and taconite powder into pelletsShip the pellets to steel mills for steel production

Now, studies have shown that taconite exposure can cause or worsen conditions like mesothelioma and asbestosis, two diseases associated with asbestos exposure. However, researchers are not yet sure whether the taconite itself contains asbestos or if there are other steps of the mining process that expose people to dangerous asbestos fibers.

Taconite mining and processing once used asbestos fibers, and there are also asbestos-like fibers present in the taconite itself. The blasting, crushing, and grinding parts of iron ore production can release these fibers into the atmosphere, where they can be inhaled or ingested. In fact, mesothelioma cases in the Iron Range of Minnesota occur at twice the normal rate.

Asbestos is a human carcinogen that causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal cancers. If you think that you have been exposed to asbestos through taconite mining or other processes, you should seek more information regarding your health risks and other dangers. For more information, please visit the Mesothelioma Resource Center today.

View the original article here

The Sumner Simpson Papers - Secret Information That the Asbestos Industry Didn't Want You to Know

There is incontrovertible evidence that exposure to asbestos cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other life threatening diseases. There is also irrefutable evidence that since the early part of the 20th century the asbestos industry has been fully aware that there is a definite link between asbestos and cancer.

In addition, there is incontestable evidence that the asbestos industry chose to protect their profits rather than make this information known to the general public. Some of this evidence can be found in what has come to be known as "The Sumner Simpson Papers."

Saranac Laboratory is Hired to Research the Effects of Asbestos Dust

The Saranac Laboratory, located in the Adirondack Mountain region of upstate New York, had been doing research on dusts since the early 1920s. In 1936 a number of asbestos companies jointly funded Saranac to do research for them. They subsequently renewed their annual contract with Saranac Laboratory for the next ten years.

Part of what Saranac found was that there was a link between being exposed to asbestos and cancer.

In January 1947 the companies that funded the Saranac research met.

It has been discerned that the companies decided that "there would be no publication of the research of experiments without consent," and that anything that would be published "would not include any objectionable material." They specifically referred to, "any relation between asbestos and cancer."

The conglomerate that funded Saranac agreed that "the reference to cancer and tumors should be deleted" from the report. Consequently, when Saranac's report about their dust experiments was published, evidence that linked asbestos exposure to cancer was suppressed.

The Sumner Simpson Papers

From the 1930s through the 1940s Sumner Simpson was president of Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc.

In 1935, in correspondence to an attorney for Johns-Manville Corporation, Vandiver Brown, Simpson, when commenting on the asbestos industry, wrote "the less said about asbestos, the better off we are."

Simpson also pressured trade industry publications to follow the dictates of the asbestos industry's decisions. The publisher of Asbestos Magazine wrote Simpson a letter in 1939 which, when referring to asbestosis, said, "Always you have requested that for certain obvious reasons we publish nothing, and naturally, your wishes have been respected."

In 1941 Vandiver Brown, who had become a corporate officer of Johns-Manville Corporation, wrote, "I felt there was considerable likelihood that a number of subscribers would dislike an article on this subject in the trade magazine of the asbestos industry. I had in mind the ostrich-like attitude which has been evidenced from time to time by members of the industry."

The corporate cover up continued for decades.

How Did the Asbestos Industry Feel About Its Workers?

How the industry felt about its workers was probably best summed up in a document in 1966 written by the Director of Purchases for Bendix Corporation, E.A. Martin. In it he said:

"My answer to the problem is: if you have enjoyed a good life while working with asbestos products why not die from it. There's got to be some cause."

View the original article here

Asbestos - When Did We See The Light And Put A Stop To It?

Many people find solace in the fact asbestos is now banned. There was a great cheer the year it happened, but the ban has so many holes in it that it isn't much of a ban to speak of.

The manufacturers of asbestos products didn't make a lot of money on the products. No, they made absolutely huge amounts of money. As you can imagine, they were not particularly interested in giving up their cash cow. No, they fought like mad to keep the products going out and the revenues coming in. While they were unable to stop the assault on their products, they were able to delay banning of asbestos for nearly two decades.

Asbestos was eventually banned on July 12, 1989. At least that is the accepted date. Unfortunately, it is a red herring of sorts. The problem is the manufacturers didn't stop fighting. They challenged the ban in court. In 1991, they eventually convinced an appellate court to partially overturn the ban and things have remained the same to this day.

So, what is banned and what is not? Well, let's start with the easy part of the issue. Any "new uses" of asbestos are banned. This means that the material cannot be used in products or manners that it historically has not been used. For instance, it could not be used in an iPad.

What about past uses? Ah, that is a disturbing subject. Essentially, asbestos manufacturers can continue to use it in all products in the market prior to 1989 with certain exceptions. They are flooring felt, rollboard, and corrugated, commercial, or specialty paper. That is it. Asbestos can still be used in other construction material, clothing and whatever. In short, we are talking about a very weak ban indeed.

So, is asbestos included in a lot of products today? Some, but not very many. The problem is not the ban. Instead, it is simply very difficult to sell products that have asbestos in them. Would you buy one? I wouldn't! Where the asbestos ban of 1989 has proved fairly impotent, the reaction of consumers has made more of an impact. At least in the United States.

View the original article here

Do You Have Asbestos Cancer Or Mesothelioma? What It Means For You And Possible Treatments

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos cancer, or by its clinical term, mesothelioma, it means you have a form of cancer that damages the mesothelium which is a membrane that encases our lungs, chest, abdomen and heart. The heart is protected by mesothelial tissue that surrounds it and is dubbed the pericardium. The lungs and chest cavity is covered by the pleural mesothlium membrane, and the peritoneum is what covers the abdominal cavity using mesothelial tissue. Asbestos damages every one of these membranous cells, however the most typical is pleural mesothelioma, usually in the advanced stages of this disease the cancer spreads and attacks other areas of the body.

The main reason behind people contracting asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, but it can be brought on by other things, such as exposure to zeolite, which is a chemical also found in asbestos. The worrying thing is how prevalent asbestos is in many materials that around us every day, including cement, roof shingles, flooring, textiles, brake linings and insulation. The asbestos inserts itself via our respiratory system and settles within, making carcinogenic tumors. Individuals in the construction industry need to be especially careful about fighting asbestos, asbestos mine workers, workers at shipyards and mills are the most susceptible to asbestos cancer, thanks to continual exposure to it. It might take as long as 50 years for symptoms to display themselves, but unfortunately once mesothelioma is located the common person will have 1 - 2 years left to live, this is why early detection is important for any hope of treatment.

There are rules established by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) as to the legal amounts of asbestos that can be allowed in the workplace. Anybody who deals with the substance is forced to adhere to strict guidelines and wear protective equipment. Asbestos carried home on clothing has also been shown to affect family members of workers, therefore showers and a change out of protective clothing is demanded before workers can leave the workplace.

Successful treatments of mesothelioma differ greatly depending on many factors, the patient, when it is diagnosed, where it is located and the health of the patient. Quite a few patients will undergo surgery, and then chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Surgery will excise tumors but the normal health of the patient decides how effective this will be. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both efficient strategies to fight the symptoms, however he side effects from these treatments can cause issues themselves. Anybody who thinks they might have been exposed to asbestos for a long period of time should go in for regular check ups and look out for symptoms that could demonstrate the surfacing of mesothelioma, because remember if you catch the disease early your chances of survival increase dramatically.

View the original article here

Understanding Mesothelioma and Its Types

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by direct or indirect asbestos exposure. It is characterized by the formation of cancerous tumors on mesothelium membrane which is made up of mesothelial cells and protects internal body organs. In mesothelioma this protective lining gets damaged by the formation of cancerous cells and causes ultimate death to that person. Once these cells produce on mesothelium, they start to proliferate rapidly to assume the form of cancerous tumors. This disease shows its symptoms too lately when it becomes almost impossible for doctors to save patient's life.

Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma occurs in three forms including:

1- Pleural Mesothelioma
2- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
3- Pericardial Mesothelioma

1- Pleural Mesothelioma

In this type of cancer the protective lining around chest cavity (including lungs) called pleura gets damaged due to the proliferation of cancerous cells. It is the most common type of mesothelioma. Its symptoms include persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood (hemoptysis) and night sweats etc.

2- Peritoneal Mesothelioma

In this type of mesothelioma, the protective lining around abdominal cavity is affected by the formation of cancerous cells. This protective covering is called peritoneum. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, unusual weight loss, nausea, fatigue and anemia etc. It makes 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma cases diagnosed till today.

3- Pericardial Mesothelioma

In pericardial mesothelioma the pericardium which protects our heart gets damaged by cancerous cell rapid proliferation. Though it is the rare form of mesothelioma and accounts only for 6% of total cases diagnosed till today but it pauses extreme threat to person's life as compared to other types of mesothelioma cancer. Its symptom resembles with that of other heart diseases therefore it is very hard to diagnose it correctly and timely.

View the original article here