Asbestos, historically referred to as the “magic mineral”, has recently been renamed the world’s largest occupational killer. Despite the wealth of information concerning its harmful effects, there continues to be a nationwide epidemic of asbestos-related diseases. This raises concern in the eyes of many public health advocates who are fighting for the gap closure between the knowledge base of the harmful effects due to asbestos and intervention implementation.
Background
Asbestos use dates back to as early as 2500 BC, however, it was not used commercially until the mid 1800s. Asbestos growth began with products such as textiles and brakes. It was also commonly found in the shipbuilding and construction industries. Asbestos can now be found
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Although there have been reports that certain types of asbestos are safe, this is a well-documented myth. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently reported that all types of asbestos (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophylite) are group 1: carcinogenic to humans (IARC 2012). Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 107000 people die of mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis related to asbestos exposure every year. Furthermore, 125 million people worldwide are currently exposed to asbestos at the workplace. Asbestos is causally linked to an increase in occupational hazard and subsequent …show more content…
Firstly, this is necessary because the use of a standardization technique improves reliability. In order to improve marginal productivity, a standard may be used nationally and possibly internationally to lower the chance of error due to exposure assessment and subsequently misleading or false conclusions. Moreover, using a standard has been shown to increase consistency and validity of studies. Secondly, this could potentially explain heterogeneity across studies such as the example mentioned above (Sebastien, McDonald et al. 1989) as well as a cancer case–control study conducted in the Greater Toronto Area, 1997–2002 (Hardt, Vermeulen et al. 2014). In fact, Hardt et al have already shown improvements in exposure assessment using the DOM-JEM. In the Greater Toronto Area study, self-reported data showed no increased risk in lung cancer in those exposed to asbestos, whereas a nearly twofold increased risk was associated with exposure to asbestos when using the DOM-JEM. Lastly, this method could be extended to situations concerning household and environmental exposure as opposed to solely occupational exposure. There have been several cases of people experiencing asbestos exposure in an area where they were unaware of their exposure; take for example if a school teacher were
A history of asbestos exposure may not be volunteered to the doctor at an early stage as it may have occurred 30, 40, 50 or even more years prior to seeing the doctor and may have been forgotten about. A striking feature of asbestos disease is this long latency period between exposure and onset of symptoms, the fibres laying dormant for
After 1973 there was a huge reduction in asbestos use although the devastation before that time will be with us for years. Once the dangers of asbestos became more understood, many responsible government agencies sought to limit or ban the use of asbestos and regulate asbestos exposure. The United States Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for monitoring asbestos levels in workplaces and communities, and has banned the use of asbestos in new products since 1989.
What is asbestos you ask? Well asbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers. The fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin, and flexible, so that they can even be woven into cloth. Because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in thousands if consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States.
The second important reason asbestos materials must be removed is safety. If you leave materials containing asbestos, whether next year, twenty years or hundred years, eventually the problem of the asbestos material will have to be addressed. The material can be merely covered, but eventually every home needs repair, and building supplies replaced. If the building burns, or collapses, there is a significant risk of exposure to the people who live in the home and to all the firefighters and paramedics. A good but tragic example is the many firefighters and other first
Asbestos is made up of six different minerals and is a naturally forming substance. As it forms, fibres develop that can be transformed into durable, thin threads for use in industrial, commercial and even domestic applications. For example, the construction industry has used asbestos in insulation, as a cement strengthener, fireproofing and roofing. Over the years, it became evident how risky asbestos exposure is to your health as people developed the life-threatening form of Mesothelioma that could be traced back to this exposure.
Receiving standard check-ups, specially if you experience some sort of recognized record of asbestos subjection (i. electronic. getting labored in an professional
Asbestos related illnesses will continue to be a problem until all asbestos and asbestos-like materials are banned. Given the abatement processes are costly and require special training, this proves to be a very difficult process.
“Asbestos can be found in many homes, schools, and workplaces, and if it is not handled properly it poses a serious health risk,” Healey said. “Too often, children, families, and workers are exposed to airborne asbestos fibers due to shoddy or unlicensed work, and many aren’t aware of the serious
Asbestos had been widely used in many industries around the world due to its versatility, strength, fire-resistant and insulating properties of the fibres. They are used in the manufacturing industry as vinyl floor tiles, electrical components, gasket products, brake linings and disc pads. The three main type of asbestos, white, blue and brown can also be found in cement sheeting and piping in the construction industry. However, the use of asbestos in Australia and many other countries had been ban due to its known health effects which is include pleural diseases, lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Another explanation behind the expansion in these Mesothelioma litigation cases could be on account of numerous individuals who have been determined to have Mesothelioma or lung cancer because of asbestos introduction don't understand when or where they were presented to this unsafe synthetic, making it troublesome and to a great degree tedious to locate the definite guilty party of the
Exposure to asbestos is a significant risk factor. People who have worked in jobs where they have been exposed asbestos and family members of these workers who
Asbestos is found to be a deadly material and exposure to it for long durations of time results in asbestos cancer mesothelioma. The material was held in high regard due to its multifarious qualities like resistance to heat and shock, low weight etc. It was put to use in various commercial and consumer products on a large scale. Companies manufacturing cement, insulation, roofing shingles, along with industrial applications such as automobile brake pads, hair driers etc make extensive use of asbestos.
Veterans are a special group. Unfortunately, today men and women are at higher risk than the general population for developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma cancer. Of this group rely on asbestos past, the main cause of the disease, and the results of these operations as they leave the VA do private service. Asbestos is making it a useful tool for all branches of the military so once was considered for the heat-resistant and fire correction. Ships, tanks, cars, all modes of transportation, such as military aircraft are contained asbestos.
Australia has the world’s second highest rate of mesothelioma. Each year about 700 people in Australia die from mesothelioma or asbestosis, according to Safe Work Australia, an Australian government statutory agency designated to improve work health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements. Mesothelioma rates in Australia have climbed since the 1960s, initially from those exposed while working in mining and manufacturing professions, and now among home renovators, making it critical that better treatments are
On July 12, 1989 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule banning most asbestos-containing products. Later, it was overturned in court two years.