Thursday August 21, 2008
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Mesothelioma Help, Information & Advice
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When Should I Consult an Asbestos Attorney?
If asbestos diseases have adversely affected you or a family member then you should consult an asbestos attorney regarding litigation. Asbestos is a natural forming mineral that, in the second half of the twentieth century, was widely used as a building material. It was cheap and effective with plentiful resources. Despite the discovery that the inhalation of asbestos fibers leads to serious illnesses, companies covered up this information in order to continue its use. Asbestos laws have only recently been introduced to help control the use of this deadly substance.
Who is Affected by Asbestos Diseases?
It was estimated that approximately 10 million workers had been exposed to asbestos by the year 1978 and that by 1970 25 million tons of asbestos had been used in building work across the USA. Exposure to asbestos usually occurs when materials that contain asbestos are cut, sawn or broken; this results in the fibres being released into the atmosphere. Anyone involved in these processes was immediately at risk.
Asbestos fibres are so small they can only be seen under a microscope. They are colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is more than possible that anyone who has come into contact with the deadly asbestos fibers wouldn't even know.
Early Danger Signs.
In the 1920s the asbestos industry was aware of the damaging effects of asbestos, and yet they did nothing to protect workers or their families. By this time, insurance companies had even started to place higher premiums on workers in the asbestos industry but companies decided to put profit above the health of their workers.
As time moved on, more and more people within the asbestos industry learned of the dangers involved but it was some time before anything was done about it. It is only fairly recently that proper health and safety measures have been implemented to stop exposure to asbestos. Any asbestos attorney or asbestos law firm can tell you whether you were unduly put at risk and whether you have the right to proceed with an asbestos lawsuit.
Diseases Associated with Asbestos.
Many fatal and non-fatal diseases are associated with the exposure to asbestos. Many prove fatal to the sufferer. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Lung cancer can also be contracted, as well as asbestosis. When the lungs inhale asbestos, some of the fibers become caught. In turn these fibers cause scar tissue and decrease the lungs' capability to breathe sufficient oxygen.
If you suffer from any of these illnesses, and you haven't already done so, contact an asbestos attorney immediately; you may be entitled to pursue asbestos litigation.
Loni Taylor is a freelance author from Dayton, Ohio. For examples of other articles, see http://www.a1-asbestos-attorney.net
AFP - Pregant women subjected to traumatising stress are more likely to give birth to children who develop schizophrenia, according to a study published Thursday.
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What Are The Risk Factors For Mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma cancer. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral found in the ground and mined all over the world. It is so small it can only be identified under a microscope. In the past, asbestos was added to various products such as insulation to increase fire resistant properties. Asbestos exposure, especially of an extended duration, has been linked to mesothelioma and other health problems, including lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects cells in the lining of the chest and abdomen. The tissues in these areas are called the mesothelium, and they produce a lubricating fluid that allows the organs to move easily and without irritation or injury in the torso cavity.
Is Replacing the Lungs the Answer to Lung Cancer?
Late stage lung cancers are some of the hardest to treat, but in the future scientists maybe able to grow human lungs and simply remove and replace the damaged lung. So far it appears that major steps have been made to make this feasible for lung transplants. In the United Kingdom a specialized team of researchers at the Imperial College London used embryonic stem cells and had them grow into cells found in the lungs of adults. Lung cells, which allow oxygen to cross into the blood stream where made. Although this maybe a decade or so away, it is possible to make this procedure a simple process. It is also theoretically possible to make these tissues from other types of adult stem cells, which avoids the political stem cell debates, which have been a firestorm of controversy, between religious doctrines and modern bio scientists. Currently it is hard for a lung cancer victim to get a transplant, which is a close enough match for a viable risk of rejection, but this could change all that some day.
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. However, they may have been been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways. This could include working with asbestos or by home renovation using asbestos cement products or even by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos. The resulting disease is rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs.