In Asbestos in Drinking-water, the Background document for development of WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality the World Health Organization reports that most of the US population consumes drinking water with a concentration lower than 1 MFL. Research studying the effects of ingesting asbestos have yet to show a significant risk of cancer from ingesting asbestos. At the same time, the scientific community is concerned about possible risks and continues to research the area.

The EPA recommends finding out about your local source for drinking water. Numbers to call will appear on your water bill or telephone book’s government listings. If you contact your water utility company, they can provide you with a copy of the required annual consumer confidence report or water quality report that will give you information about the quality of water in your area. If your water supply is private, the EPA recommends that you contact the nearest community water system. For more information about asbestos and mesothelioma, please complete our online form.

According to the National Cancer Institute, certain people are at a much higher risk for asbestos exposure and therefore asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. These diseases pose a greater threat to people who encounter asbestos regularly or who are exposed to extreme levels, such as the rescue workers and volunteers helping in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. The collapse of the World Trade Center North Tower released several tons of asbestos into the air, potentially affecting thousands at the site and surrounding areas. This, of course, is an extreme example of acute environmental exposure. Most cases of asbestos-related disease are linked to certain industries affected by mesothelioma.

Because the risk of exposure often does not surface until many years later, the current list of high-risk jobs is different than those of the past. Obviously, workers who mine asbestos or mesothelioma linked materials that may be contaminated with asbestos are at a great risk, as well as those who work in asbestos product manufacturing.

Additionally, workers involved in the construction business are at a higher risk of ongoing exposure to asbestos-containing materials in older homes. Activities involving demolition, wall removal, popcorn ceiling removal and work in the attic, can bring a worker in contact with asbestos-containing materials. Firefighters exposed to demolished homes may also run a high risk for repeated exposure. Auto-mechanics involved with brake repair can be at risk for asbestos contact. Some studies have shown that family members of these workers can also be affected, as their loved ones bring asbestos fibers into the home on their clothes. Proximity to asbestos mines may also be a factor. There have been cases of people living near mines developing asbestos-related diseases when they had no other known source of exposure.

Government regulations have come a long way in protecting workers’ health against asbestos exposure. Yet, the potential for exposure is still very real, and the degree to which proper safety precautions are followed on the job may make all the difference in the frequency and severity of the exposure.

Certain factors can affect one’s risk of developing an asbestos-related illness. Studies have indicated that the effects of smoking and asbestos exposure combined may be far more deadly than they are separately. Also, the type of fiber, dose, duration and individual health may alter a person’s risk of developing these diseases.

If you would like to know more about asbestos and asbestos-related diseases, please visit our Mesothelioma and Asbestos FAQ or read our Mesothelioma articles.

Brown, working in the oil fields for several years in the 1970’s and 80’s, claims he inhaled asbestos dust on a regular basis when mixing drilling mud that was sold by Chevron Phillips Chemical and manufactured by Union Carbide. He has since developed a serious condition known as asbestosis, a disease that causes lung scarring and may become worse with time. Brown requires oxygen 24 hours a day, limiting his mobility and ability to work. Apparently at issue was Brown’s inability to read the warning labels and signs posted by the company. The companies’ spokespeople vehemently denied the claims and stated that there were plans for an appeal.

Regardless of the eventual outcome of this particular case, the large settlement may send a strong message to companies who are not keenly focused on the health and safety of workers. Prior to this case, the largest settlement, in an amount over $200 million, resulted from a class-action suit that took place in Illinois. The next highest settlement occurred in March of this year, when $90 million was awarded to Charles Gillenwater. Since the first asbestos-related injury case in 1929, hundreds of thousands of people have filed lawsuits against thousands of defendants. But this is the largest known settlement to date.  For more information about victim’s rights, visit our page on mesothelioma victim’s rights.

According to the EPA, exposure to asbestos can be a cause of mesothelioma or lead to other cancers or asbestosis, as in Brown’s case. Exposure to asbestos can be particularly dangerous because of the long latency period of the diseases associated with asbestos exposure. A worker may expose themselves repeatedly for years before any symptoms arise. Once symptoms do arise, for many people the diagnosis is unfortunately terminal. Our mesothelioma articles provide useful information to anyone interested in finding out more about mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.

Chemotherapy, in essence, is the use of chemical drugs to target and kill cancer cells, decrease the size of tumors or reduce the spread of malignant cells to other parts of the human body. However, with over 100 different types of chemicals in use and diverse procedures for their use, chemotherapy is often a complex subject to understand. One such chemotherapy drug, Alimta, may be a feasible treatment, as the FDA approved it for specific treatment of mesothelioma. Certain combinations of chemotherapy drugs have shown positive results in some mesothelioma patients, potentially prolonging survival.

Radiation therapy is another treatment method for mesothelioma. Radiation therapy — sometimes called radiotherapy — uses low doses of ionizing radiation as a mesothelioma treatment option to help target and control cancer cells or reduce their spread. In some cases, radiation therapy may also be combined with chemotherapy, and this method might be used to lessen painful symptoms resulting from mesothelioma cancer.

However, both radiation and chemotherapy can possibly result in some unpleasant side effects such as fatigue, pain and nausea. These side effects could differ depending on the patient and the location, type and duration of treatments. Certain diets and medications prescribed by a doctor may aid in minimizing selected side effects, and there are cases where patients do not experience any side effects at all. While these mesothelioma treatment options may prove effective in possibly prolonging life, there remains no known cure for mesothelioma.

Cancer can occur as a result of impairment of the DNA in human cells. Our bodies are made up an untold number of living cells, from receptor and blood cells to hair cells. Different cells perform different functions in the human body and the majority of cells have DNA. Human cells naturally produce, repair, grow, multiply and die, where new cells take the place of dying ones. With cancer, the altered or impaired DNA and cell do not expire; instead, they continue to multiply with new cells also containing the altered and impaired DNA. While researchers know that some cancer is a result of hereditary or environmental causes, in other cases, the cause isn’t always clear. Furthermore, different types of cancers operate differently. Some cancers may spread, while others do not. The technical name for the spread of cancer to other parts of the human body is metastasis.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer, which, is a result of impaired cells called mesothelium cells. These mesothelium cells act and behave somewhat like oil in a car, lubricating various body cavities, particularly the thoracic cavity surrounding the lungs. The cancer, as a result of damage to these cells, may result from exposure to asbestos particles. Sometimes, symptoms of the cancer do not appear until decades after exposure. This cancer is often discovered via chest x-ray, CT Scan or biopsy.  Mesothelioma treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Asbestos use has been traced back at least 4,500 years to Finland for strengthening earthenware pots and cooking utensils. The use of asbestos became commonplace between the turn of the 20^th century and the late 1970s in industrial capacities. It was also used in brake pads until the mid-1990s.

There are four methods for asbestos disposal; the EPA suggests all methods should be performed by a properly-licensed asbestos abatement company, and any intact asbestos not be touched. Knowing whether a product contains asbestos is not easy unless it’s properly labeled.

The most dangerous method of asbestos removal is dry stripping.  This involves simply removing the asbestos without any amount of moisture. While a simple method, dry stripping can produce a large amount of dust and may release toxins.

High-pressured water removal is a popular method, using the water to force the asbestos away from the people doing the removal. This method is usually reserved for industrial spaces that are hard to reach.

A technique for home asbestos removal is controlled wet stripping, performed by injecting warm water into asbestos with specialized needles. This effectively weighs down the material, which also helps control the amount of dust released.

Another asbestos-removal method is hot stripping. This technique includes the use of a ventilation system along with hot air. By blowing the asbestos fibers with the hot air, any residue can be directed toward a powerful ventilation system.

However, in some cases asbestos material is not removed, but rather encased.

In many countries, asbestos is typically disposed of as hazardous waste in landfill sites. In the United States, OSHA regulations require a sign stating that the hazardous waste or landfill site contains asbestos.

For more information check out our Mesothelioma articles on the laws and regulations concerning asbestos materials.

The report suggests that victims of malignant pleural mesothelioma were more likely to survive after a diagnosis if they received cancer-directed surgery as part of mesothelioma treatment efforts.  Another important factor is the “grade” of the tumor cells.  The grade refers to its similarity to nearby cells.  According to the report, it appears that the more similar a cancer cell is to its surrounding cells, the higher the survival rate of those afflicted with the disease.

This is good news, and not just because the results of this study might show that patients receiving certain treatments may have higher rates of survival than others.  This is also good news because it means there are signs of progress of a sort within the field of mesothelioma treatment, an area of study that doesn’t quite attract the level of investment as other battles against more common forms of cancer.  Part of that research disparity might be due to the rarity of mesothelioma; after all, only somewhere between seven and 40 people per million in the United States contract the disease, compared to much higher rates for other, more common forms of cancer.

Just because it’s rare, however, doesn’t mean mesothelioma treatment shouldn’t be a concern.  After all, mesothelioma is an aggressive and lethal disease, and though there are treatments for it, there is, unfortunately, no cure.  The survival rate of patients suffering from mesothelioma is often measured in mere months.

Mesothelioma is a very serious matter. And because it is caused by asbestos exposure, it is important for victims to seek legal help. Companies that made and sold asbestos products knew of its dangers as early as the 1890s, and even though knowledge existed that asbestos was a deadly poison, asbestos companies continued to place a higher value on its profits instead of on human life. For this reason, workers in many industries like the shipbuilding and automotive industries, for example, suffered asbestos exposure, which can lead to mesothelioma. There is no cure for mesothelioma.

What can make the process of finding a mesothelioma lawyer a bit easier is if you get a referral from a friend or family member. If this is not possible, you can ask the mesothelioma lawyer you’re considering for referrals and his or her history of handling cases and settlements.

When meeting with a mesothelioma lawyer, don’t be afraid to ask questions. For example, how long have they been handling similar cases? What were the outcomes of the other mesothelioma cases they have handled? Will they be handling your case, or will another lawyer in the firm be assigned your case?

Ultimately, you should be confident that the mesothelioma lawyer you hire has what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve. He or she should be able to handle the case as quickly as possible so that you can focus on your health and your family. To speak with a resource person about mesothelioma, please call 1-888-370-0121.

Army Archerd was diagnosed with mesothelioma five years ago. In a Chicago Tribune news story, Archerd’s wife noted that doctors who diagnosed him with mesothelioma ascribed it to his asbestos exposure while working in a shipyard when he was in the Navy during World War II.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that currently has no cure. Mesothelioma attacks the lining of various organs and areas of the body, causing victims tremendous pain and suffering. It’s also called asbestos cancer due to asbestos exposure being a cause of mesothelioma. The first signs of mesothelioma can take between 10 and 50 years to show up after a person has been exposed to asbestos. There is treatment available, but, again, there is no cure.

People who worked in the construction, ship building and general industries can be at risk for mesothelioma, as these industries were affected by asbestos exposure. Asbestos was a commonly-used material in construction in the 1900s up until 1978, used in roofing materials, siding, pipes, boilers and even automobile brakes. What’s more is that workers who endured years of asbestos exposure also put their families at risk — asbestos fibers could have been tracked into their homes by shoes and clothing.

Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma are nothing short of serious. Army Archerd is one of many, many people affected by mesothelioma, and he will no doubt be missed. Archerd’s passing brings up the importance of mesothelioma victim’s rights and knowing what should be done if you or a loved one has mesothelioma. To speak with someone to find out more information, call 1-888-370-0121.

A typical mesothelioma diagnosis could begin with a patient noticing symptoms including chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and wheezing.  The patient might pay a visit to her general practitioner.  At this point, the general practitioner could decide to refer the patient to a specialist, who might run a series of tests to determine the source of the symptoms.

Mesothelioma Tests

Though this is not the only way a diagnosis is performed, some typical procedures follow.  One such procedure might be a chest X-ray.  This simple X-ray is often capable of detecting any major abnormalities in the patient’s lungs, such as a thickening of the pleura, the membrane that surrounds the lungs.  Pleura thickening is a sign of mesothelioma, but it could also mean something else, so further tests are often needed.  One such test is the CT scan, which provides a 3-D image of the scanned area.  Its goal is to detect the position of any tumor or pleural thickening.  Two other procedures which require samples are pleural aspirations and biopsies.  The pleural aspiration uses a syringe to take a sample of any fluid found in the pleura, which can then be checked for mesoethelioma cells.  A biopsy involves passing a specially designed needle through the skin and into the tumor or thickened pleura with the intent of searching for traces of the cancer.

Get Your Mesothelioma Tests Quickly, and Take Action

Being subjected to these tests can be stressful, and waiting for results can be an anxious time, but it can be a better tactic to undergo them as soon as possible.  An early warning, combined with aggressive treatment, can mean the difference between measuring the rest of your life in years as opposed to mere months.  Your quality of life might also be improved, as well.