Before contacting a mesothelioma attorney, many people want to do research online to learn more about the deadly disease. Below is a summary of some well known studies regarding asbestos exposure and its link to mesothelioma. Latency of asbestos disease among insulation workers in the United States and Canada Irving J. Selikoff, MD, E. Cuyler Hammond, Herbert Seidman, December 1979 Volume 46 Issue 12, Pages 2736 – 2740. Below is an excerpt: “Two thousand two hundred seventy-one deaths were recorded among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers observed from January 1, 1967-December 31, 1976. There was little increase in cancer deaths or of asbestosis in less than 15-19 years from onset of employment. In general, though, the period of clinical latency was 2-4 decades or more and there were important differences among the several asbestos-associated diseases. Lung cancer peaked at about 30-35 years from onset and asbestosis at 40-45 years. Each tended to decline in incidence afterwards. Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma reached their highest incidence later than lung cancer, but the incidence did not decline. In studies of effects of asbestos exposure, it appears advantageous to observe for at least 35-40 years or more from onset of exposure and to analyze the experience in duration-from-onset categories. If this is not possible, only the very limited early effects will be identified and the full import of the exposure may not be appreciated.” Another important study is called, Fiber counting and analysis in the diagnosis of asbestos-related disease, by Dr. A Churg - Hum. Pathol.; (United States); Journal Volume: 13:4 - Department of Pathology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Here is an excerpt: “Analysis of numbers and types of asbestos fibers present in lung tissue may provide insights into the pathogenesis of asbestos-induced disease, as well as diagnostic information concerning the relationship of a given lesion to asbestos exposure. This type of analysis requires extraction of fibers and asbestos bodies from lung tissue, preferably by means of a digestion-and-concentration technique, and examination with a combination of electron optical techniques, including electron diffraction and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The combination permits definitive identification of asbestos fibers. Asbestos bodies have been shown to contain asbestos no matter what population they are found in, but they appear to be of value in ascertaining unusual exposure only when present in very large numbers. Numbers of asbestos bodies markedly underestimate total numbers of fibers present in lung. In patients from the general population, the mean number of asbestos fibers is about 1 X 10(6)/g dry lung; of this number, more than 80 per cent are fibers of chrysotile less than 5 microns long. Patients in the general population who have pleural plaques have about the same total number of fibers, but their lungs contain about a 50-fold increase in long thin amphibole fibers of commercial origin. Patients who have asbestosis and most patients who have mesothelioma have 100 to 200 X 10(6) fibers/g dry lung; the grade of asbestosis appears to be related to total fiber content. Occasional patients may develop mesotheliomas with much smaller fiber burdens. Both benign and malignant pleural diseases appear to be closely related to the presence of long thin amphibole fibers. Analysis of pulmonary fiber burden suggest that asbestos-related disease is not merely a matter of total numbers of fibers present, but that factors such as fiber type and size are equally important.” If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should contact an attorney for a free legal consultation.
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Before contacting a mesothelioma attorney, many people want to do research online to learn more about the deadly disease.
Monty Wrobleski is the author of this article on Asbestos Attorney. Find more information about Asbestos Exposure here.
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