This incredibly rare, but aggressive cancer can take a life in less than a year and is currently incurable.
During the early 20th century the uses of asbestos skyrocketed as a way to fireproof homes and insulate electric appliances. Factories for processing the fibrous mineral and for making produces using it sprung up all over the world and became a huge industry.
Because it was so lucrative, the people who ran the companies wanted to ensure their continued profits so they hid information stating the risks of exposure to asbestos could cause, including mesothelioma. It was not until the late 1970s that the risks began to be clear and the cover up of what companies knew was exposed. Following this has been an explosion of lawsuits against asbestos companies that has bankrupted many and caused them all to produce huge sums of money as compensation for lives ruined by their lack of compassion.
Since the late 1980s there have been laws on the books regarding asbestos handling, disposal and decontamination and workplaces often have training facilities for people who will work with asbestos.
Hazards of Asbestos
The major hazard of asbestos to people is that it enters our bodies through breathing. This simple, natural function that keeps the body going has its own filtration system but is unable to handle tiny particles effectively. This means there are some things that are small enough to make it through our defenses and asbestos is one of those things.
Since it is not a substance the body can defend itself against, the natural defenses begin to cover up the matter which forms scar tissue and abnormally developing cells in the lung lining or body cavity lining which can become malignant. This is diagnosed as mesothelioma. It does not seem to matter what level of exposure the victims have had, mesothelioma is caused by the inability to eliminate these fibers from the body. Extended exposure only serves to increase risk, as does smoking. The only way to avoid mesothelioma is to have no exposure to the substance at all.
Monitoring and Protecting
The best way to prevent asbestos exposure which can lead to mesothelioma is by making sure there is little to no exposure of employee. Employers have a large amount of work to do to save them from future lawsuit by providing training, safety features and regulations to the people who work in and around asbestos.
All aspects of asbestos production and use have to be monitored constantly, from mining to disposal. There have to be people trained in all aspects of monitoring which includes making sure the asbestos fibers are in proper containers, sealed and where they are in transit to. |
