Mesothelioma

Asbestos is heat and chemical resistant, doesn’t corrode, and performs well in insulating products. These characteristics, when combined with its flexibility to be woven, has made asbestos useful in many industrial applications (www.state.nj.us). It is a natural occurring mineral but differs from other minerals due to the formation of the crystal which are long thinner fibres. When these long, thin fibres are released into the air and exposed for inhalation, it is extremely hazardous. Asbestos will most likely be found in buildings constructed prior to 1980.

Health risks were first recognized when asbestos workers, often working in unventilated and tight spaces, began to contract asbestosis, a pulmonary disease that causes disability and death. In 1955, a British scientist noted the link between lung cancer and those who had worked with asbestos for twenty or more years. Exposure to asbestos is serious and can lead to permanent damage to the lungs and other organs. Exposure need not be directly to suffer the effects, it may also have been indirect and very brief exposure to develop symptoms of Mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which can develop in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the pericardium sac surrounding the heart. The cancer is incurable, and can manifest over 40 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. The incidence of lung cancer in people who are directly involved in the mining, milling, manufacturing and use of asbestos and its products is much higher than in the general population. A patient will undergo a lung function tests to quantify the level of pulmonary dysfunction. Studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly harmful (www.health.state.tn.us). Health problems can only be treated on a symptoms basis but unfortunately there is no cure for the underlying problem.

Removal of asbestos is very expensive and it is estimated that it would cost millions of dollars to remove and replace the asbestos in buildings. As removal is the most expensive method and unless required by state or local regulations it should be the last option considered in most situations. This is because removal poses the greatest risk of fibre release. Removing asbestos requires special equipment and detailed training. More importantly, without proper equipment and training an individual could cause asbestos fibre contamination throughout nearby homes and neighbourhoods.

Asbestos is common in the state, but the presence of asbestos may not be a problem provided that it is not disturbed and fibers are not released into the air. Adverse health effects associated with asbestos exposure have been extensively studied for many years and are ongoing today.

Many people who suffered from exposure to asbestos have opened legal proceedings to compensate their injuries. In the UK, claims for asbestos poisoning and Mesothelioma have nearly hit a massive £20 billion unfortunately for the businesses involved, only half of this expense will be met by insurers.