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Asbestos Life-Threatening Illnesses: A Case Study

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Introduction Exposure to asbestos can cause life-threatening illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, pleural calcification, and pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestos is known for it's incredible strength and fire resistance. When asbestos fibers enter the body by inhalation or ingestion, they settle in vulnerable tissues, inflaming the surrounding area and leads to health problems. Military veterans, Construction Workers, and Firefighters are faced with increased risks for asbestos exposure; affecting their immune system, respiratory system and liver (Sokolove, 2015). Discussion Once asbestos is embedded, the asbestos particles are attacked by the body's immune system. Digestive molecules called macrophages that devour foreign objects in the body are released by the immune system. Unfortunately, asbestos is a hard, fibrous mineral, the macrophages are not able to eliminate them from the lungs. Therefore, The macrophages create scar tissue as they try to wipe out the asbestos. It can take 10 years following exposure of asbestos to manifest following the first exposure. However, after 20 years or more asbestosis is more common (Ceatus Media Group, 2010). …show more content…

Ground zero was covered in dust. Air dust sampling was completed in order to determine the exposure to residents and workers to the toxic contaminant air dust asbestos. Abestos was mainly used to construct the world trade center because it was inexpensive and highly heat resistant. It is confirmed that in 2004 and 2006 two workers that help clean ground zero died of mesothelioma from working at ground zero. Experts expect in the years to come a lot more cases will develop from working at ground zero (Mesothelioma Center,

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