The mesothelioma disease is one which we must create proper awareness due to its fatal effects. It is basically a disease of the lungs, affecting the peritoneum (that is, the lining of the lungs). It is a form of cancer whose occurrence is not quite popular. The mesothelium is the sac that lines and protects vital organs, such as the heart and the lungs. The disease is commonly found in people who have come in contact with asbestos in the air more especially through breathing .
Due to a long latency period, mesothelioma symptoms (shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain) may not appear for 20 or more years. For this reason, mesothelioma is often diagnosed in later stages of development, which severely complicates treatment and chances of survival.
The disease is not recognizable at its earlier stage due to its lomg latency period which may reach up to twenty years. A research in USA showed that many veterans who worked in shipyards and aboard warships and submarines were heavily exposed to asbestos through standard operations.(source: http://www.asbestos.com/).
WHAT IS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF MESOTHELIOMA?
Current research trends show that the major cause of the disease was inhalation of asbestos filings. Asbestos is an earth mineral containing silicate ions. Asbestos is defined as a group of impure magnesium silicate minerals which occur in fibrous form. (EPA's Asbestos program in the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances is at www.epa.gov/asbestos).
WHAT ARE THE COMMON SOURCES?
The most common sources of asbestos include damaged fireproofing, acoustical materials, floor tilesputty, culk, gaskets, shoes, brake pads, clutshplate, stage curtains. Asbestos is still used in brake linings and clutch facings because of its heat resistant properties and mechanics who replace or repair these brakes may be coming in contact with asbestos on a regular basis. The same insulation that is protecting water pipes in hundreds of thousands of homes and commercial buildings, poses a serious health threat to the plumbers called on to repair or replace those pipes. Hence they are at a very high risk of contacting the disease. (Asbestos news)
The Smokers are at higher risk of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer. Integrated Risk Information System description on Asbestos - www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0371.htm#I.A. ( Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number - 1332-21-4).
The following are the different types of asbestos found:
"White" asbestos This is the kind of asbestos used in theatre curtains and firefighters' suits.
"Brown" asbestos or Amosite is a trade name for the amphiboles belonging to the Cummingtonite - Grunerite solid solution series, commonly from Africa.
"Blue" asbestos or Riebeckite is also known under the name of Crocidolite. Blue asbestos is commonly thought of as the most dangerous type of asbestos and is the major contributor to the most common form of mesothelioma. Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. ( http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com/mesothelioma-asbestos.cfm)
This picture here is a typical example of eources of asbestos. You can see here that decaying or rotten iron metals, iron filings and a host of things depicted by the picture contribute to this disease condition.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MESOTHELIOMA?
The most common symptoms of mesothelioma include:
- chest pain,
- weight loss, and
- difficulty of breathing.
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