Since the 1970s, the United States Government has heavily regulated the use of asbestos in the workplace after it was conclusively proven that asbestos exposure lead to some deadly diseases. Although asbestos is regulated today, we are still living with the consequences. Why? It can take between 30 and 40 years for many asbestos poisoning symptoms to develop, which means there are still thousands of victims across the country. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of three major diseases: mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. What are the symptoms of mesothelioma? The symptoms vary depending upon the type of mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma is characterized by the following: Shortness of Breath Chest Pain Painful and raspy coughing Abnormal growth under chest skin Weight loss Difficulty swallowing Pain the rib area Fatigue Fever Peritoneal Mesothelioma is characterzied by: Weight loss Stomach pain Abdominal swelling Anemia Fever Blood clotting Bowel obstruction Diarrhea Pericardial Mesothelioma is characterized by: Chest Pain Irregular heartbeat Murmurs Painful cough Difficulty breathing Fatigue Night sweats There has been some important research done on asbestos exposure. One study is called, “Asbestos Exposure and Neoplasia” by Irving J. Selikoff M.D., Jacob Churg M.D., and E. Cuyler Hammond D.Sc. (In order - Director of the Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, New York, Director of Laboratories at Barnert Memorial Hospital Center in Paterson, New Jersey, and Deputy Director of the Epidemiology Training Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, New York). CA Cancer J Clin 1984; 34:48-56 Here is an excerpt: “Building trades insulation workers have relatively light, intermittent exposure to asbestos. Of 632 insulation workers, who entered the trade before 1943 and were traced through 1962, 45 died of cancer of the lung or pleura, whereas only 6.6 such deaths were expected. Three of the pleural tumors were mesotheliomas; there was also one peritoneal mesothelioma. Four mesotheliomas in a total of 255 deaths is an exceedingly high incidence for such a rare tumor. In addition, an unexpectedly large number of men died of cancer of the stomach, colon, or rectum (29 compared with 9.4 expected). Other cancers were not increased; 20.5 were expected, and 21 occurred. Twelve men died of asbestosis.” Another important study is called, “Asbestos catalyzes hydroxyl and superoxide radical generation from hydrogen peroxide” by Weitzman SA, Graceffa P. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1984 Jan;228(1):373-6. Here is an excerpt: “To understand chemical characteristics of the asbestos minerals which might contribute to tissue damage, the catalytic properties of three different varieties were studied. Using spin trapping techniques it was determined that crocidolite, chrysotile, and amosite asbestos were all able to catalyze the generation of toxic hydroxyl radicals from a normal byproduct of tissue metabolism, hydrogen peroxide. The iron chelator desferroxamine inhibits this reaction, indicating a major role for iron in the catalytic process, and suggesting a possible mechanism by which asbestos toxicity might be reduced.” If you have been the victim of asbestos exposure, you may have a legal claim for damages. You should contact a mesothelioma attorney for a free legal consultation.
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Since the 1970s, the United States Government has heavily regulated the use of asbestos in the workplace after it was conclusively proven that asbestos exposure lead to some deadly diseases. Although asbestos is regulated today, we are still living with the consequences. Why? It can take between 30 and 40 years for many asbestos poisoning symptoms to develop, which means there are still thousands of victims across the country.
Monty Wrobleski is the author of this article on Asbestos Attorney. Find more information about Mesothelioma Cancer here.
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