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Mesothelioma asbestos
By Eden Ali | November 9, 2007
Asbestos was discovered in antiquity, but it was not mined and commonly used commercially until the late 1800s. Asbestos’ use rapidly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, many, in fact millions of American labour have been exposed to the dust of asbestos. At first, the risks associated with the exposure to asbestos was not publicly known. However, mesothelioma cases were later discovered workers in shipyards, asbestos mines, and factories where asbestos were used. Many epidemiological researches have related asbestos exposure with the development of lesions which includes asbestos bodies in the sputum, plaques in the pleura, uneven thickening of the pleural, tumours of the gastrointestine, and malignant mesothelioma cancers of the peritoneum and the pleura.
Although several authorities consider little asbestos exposure fibres as insignificant and not likely a risk factor, some epidemiologists argued contrary to it. Even mesothelioma cases have been seen and discovered in persons who got exposed by only breathing air through the ventilation system. Other mesothelioma cases had very little direct exposure for 3 months or even less.
Members of families and others living with asbestos workers have an cosiderable risk of developing mesothelioma cancers, and other asbestos associated diseases. This risk may be as a result of asbestos exposure dust carried home on the clothes and hair of asbestos employees. To minimize the possibility of exposing family members to asbestos fibres, asbestos workers are usually mandated to shower and change their work clothes before going home.
A group study of miners employed at the mine recounted that while no deaths happened within the first 10 years after crocidolite exposure, 85 deaths attributable to mesothelioma cancers had happened by 1985. By 1994, 539 reported deaths due to mesothelioma cancers had also been reported in Western Australia.
Topics: Mesothelioma epidemiology |