Mesothelioma Lawsuits 2018: mesothelioma cancer
Showing posts with label mesothelioma cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mesothelioma cancer. Show all posts

The Effects Of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease

The Effects Of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease
The gastrointestinal tract may also be obstructed or differently negatively tormented by thicker mucus and this reduces the general performance of absorption of vitamins from the vitamin, ceaselessly an early signal of complications as a newborn fails to thrive, i.e. does not grow as expected. Obstruction from adhesions can come up and surgical removal of a level of the gut be wanted, added limiting absorption of vitamins. Reduced overall performance of the pancreatic enzymes occurs and if insufficiency of the pancreas develops then fat soluble vitamins reminiscent of K, E, D and A are poorly absorbed.



Gallbladder inflammatory adjustments and the presence of gallstones have the next incidence in patients with cystic fibrosis. Secondary sexual capabilities and the onset of puberty are probably not on time and males are infertile presented that absence of a vas deferens, on the same time as female patients may neatly perchance perhaps have reduced fertility to three measure. Progression of lung disease is worse in patients who come from the lessen socioeconomic stages. Overall the severity of lung indicators is a lot less in male patients than in female patients, with females ache worse lung prognosis and a lessen lifestyles expectancy.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited drawback with a deadly and the optimal ordinary roughly those stipulations in populations of Caucasian opening up. It is inherited as two recessive genes, one from each associate, anything the actuality that those providers turn out no signal of sickness. The genetic errors affects the exocrine glands and optimal probably promises persistent breathing tract infections. A huge number of bodily organ structures are in contact in
this disease then again the end of a sufferer's lifestyles is about constantly secondary to serious lung disease.

The genetic abnormality affects the thickness of the body's mucus, making it stickier which in flip makes it more vulnerable to bacterial an infection. Thickened secretions may also be optimal up-to-date in the breathing tract which makes them not gentle to fresh, then again they're also optimal up-to-date in the pancreas, sweat glands and the digestive tract. Initially the lungs are general then again quickly after birth an an infection develops at ages and the cycle of an infection and inflammation is inserting up as neatly as a proceeding presence of genuine bacteria in the lungs. Gradually the lung membranes ultimately find yourself thickened and fewer efficient, leading ultimately to breathing failure.

The incidence of cystic fibrosis makes it the optimal principally taking drawback deadly genetic drawback, inherited by a recessive gene trait. In populations of white European opening up the traditional frequency is one in 3200 births on the same time as in populations in Asia this is additionally one in 90,000 handiest. 37 years is the traditional age of survival with male patients living for a substantially longer period than female patients. Progression of the lung abnormalities goes from bronchitis to bronchiectasis and then right away to coronary heart failure with end stage disease of the lungs. The disease is awfully variable in the manner it progresses, the age of the sufferer at presentation, the severity of the symptoms and the demeanour of disease progression.

The Importance of Palliative Care for Mesothelioma Patients

The Importance of Palliative Care for Mesothelioma Patients
Art remedy is an alternative widely used complementary remedy that emphasizes the importance of recovery each the mind and the frame. Creating and staring at artwork gives a patient the hazard to unearth and show their emotions almost about their disorder, and is helping comfort in diminishing stress, fear, and anxiousness. For terminal patients, artwork remedy would possibly be the solution to come back to grips with and show concern over their disorder. In a 2006 analyze revealed in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, researchers referred to 50 melanoma patients over a 4 month length who each took an artwork remedy path. After ending artwork remedy, the researches noticed an observable and quantifiable lessen in tiredness, melancholy, anxiousness, discomfort, breathlessness, and nausea in a majority of patients. This is really real trying to seek out patients recognized with mesothelioma in consequence of the alarmingly speedy life expectancy. Being succesful of come to grips with the potentially discontinue result of your disorder is a mighty instrument.



Music Therapy
Throughout history and culture music has confirmed to be a widely used tactic in holistic recovery, as it may comfort patients manage each their physical and emotional symptoms. According to melanoma.org, when combined with medication, music remedy can comfort ease nausea and vomiting and comfort minimize speedy-time period discomfort. Since music affects brain waves, circulation, neurotransmitters, and stress hormones, music remedy can additionally comfort with melancholy and anxiousness symptoms. Scientific proof apart, any melanoma review puts your life on dangle, and diagnostic procedures corresponding to chemo, or surgery can take any sense of normalcy out of your life, and music, whether listening or performing, may additionally be an hassle-free solution to loosen up and heal, and having a practice routine can add a feeling of normalcy returned into a patients life.

Alternative therapies are valuable in any melanoma review, really those that have terminal outcomes. When faced with a mesothelioma review, really, many patients need an outlet to reveal their feelings almost about their review, and approaches to healthily cope with the emotional fatigue as neatly as the physical space consequences existing when present process melanoma remedy. Alternative drugs when combined with traditional melanoma therapies and less than the supervision of an oncologist is extremely advantageous bodily, mentally, and emotionally for any patient recognized.

Mesothelioma is smoothly known all over the medical field as one of the most troublesome cancers to
regard. There are lots of reasons which have averted having a look out a professional cure for the disorder. Mesothelioma can stay dormant for therefore long as fifty years, permitting it to reach terminal levels with out many indications. At this point, many traditional melanoma therapies are slightly ineffective, adding really a few months to the patients prognosis. Research is additionally troublesome to habit, as slightly few persons are recognized with the disorder, almost about 3,000 per year. Since mesothelioma is so infrequent, there are various cardiothoracic surgeons that do not have any enjoy with the disorder in anyway. Because of the excuses indicated above, many patients recognized with mesothelioma have a life expectancy starting from 6-18 months. With such an negative prognosis, many docs put forward palliative care upon review.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a widely used complementary remedy for melanoma patients, and alongside rubdown remedy one of the most accredited documents of series remedy for melanoma patients. According to the Mayo hospital, acupuncture may additionally be used as an series method to relieving symptoms comparable to melanoma remedy, including discomfort, nausea, and stress. Acupuncture additionally is helping to set off the immune machine, and lessen discomfort. There have been reviews that endorse that acupuncture is more rewarding at alleviating symptoms for melanoma patients than nurse-led supportive care, decreasing symptom ratings by 22%. Alternatively, massaging stress aspects 2-three finger widths less than the crease on a patients wrist, or carrying acupressure wristbands can aide in abating nausea, making it a mighty instrument for those going by using chemotherapy.

Palliative care is a holistic frame of mind to recovery, which operates less than the suggestion that the mental, and social symptoms of a disorder deserve to be treated at the side of the physical symptoms. This frame of mind to remedy is really severe for patients recognized with terminal diseases or diseases that have speedy life expectations. Because mesothelioma is a terminal disorder traditionally recognized in persons 65 years of age or older, patients and their docs may opt for series therapies that consciousness on the patients caliber of life, whether they may be present process chemo and surgery or now not. Holistic strategies to recovery may additionally be valuable in relieving stress, anxiousness, melancholy, nausea and exclusive symptoms that pass hand-in-hand with any melanoma review and remedy. There are a whole lot of strategies that would possibly comfort in the complete neatly being of a patient, although for the applications of this article, merely the most typical would be highlighted.

The Link Between Copd And Lung Cancer Shows A High Risk Even In Non-Smokers

The Link Between Copd And Lung Cancer Shows A High Risk Even In Non-Smokers
COPD is still one of the prime motives of death in the United States, even among nonsmokers. There are two varieties of the condition adding continuous bronchitis and a more serious form is called emphysema which lastly leads to a total destruction of the lungs. In nonsmokers, the inability of a various protein is called alpha-1-anitrypsin may well perhaps cause emphysema. Other, environmental probability factors comprise office exposure to distinctive risks like gases or harmful fumes to boot as pollution. Secondhand smoke exposure in addition increases the probability of COPD.



According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute more than twelve million of us may well perhaps have COPD without even figuring out it.

Testing for COPD to boot as for lung melanoma can even be intricate. One of the good tests for medical examiners to utilize is that of spirometry whereby the patient is requested to blow properly into a tube as now not easy as possible. Results can even be measured automatically. Other possible tests like blood work, scans and Xrays or even listening to the chest may well perhaps be less superb brought on by the lungs may well perhaps appearance sizable on scan or may well perhaps sound sizable whereas the chest is listened to. Treatment is aimed at lessening indicators brought on by there's now not very any remedy.

Lung melanoma and a condition is called
continuous obstructive pulmonary health difficulty are a total lot more tightly linked, even in life time non-people who smoke in keeping with analysis. An envisioned forty to seventy percent of of us identified with lung melanoma will even have been identified with COPD. That link is strongly installed that medical examiners are now calling COPD the one most obligatory probability aspect for setting up lung melanoma. Other refreshing studies have shown that the probability factors for one overlap any other making it more difficult to diagnose the melanoma until eventually it reaches the later ranges.

Symptoms of COPD are corresponding to various the ones of lung melanoma and comprise a lingering cough, shortness of breath which increases on exertion and repeated bouts of pneumonia and/or bronchitis Lung melanoma may well perhaps begin much an analogous strategy until eventually other indicators begin presenting. Those can comprise coughing up bloody performing sputum to boot as coughing up just blood, a lack of any appetite prime to serious weight and sudden ewight loss , hoarseness, arm or chest wall pain and swelling in the neck or the face vicinity. Once lung melanoma is identified, it is customarily late level and kind of untreatable. Depending on the extent, chemotherapy and radiation choose to be suggested no matter may well perhaps most hard prolong the life by most hard just a lot of months.

The Reasons Why Many People Do Not Survive Cancer

The Reasons Why Many People Do Not Survive Cancer
Today we handiest have a scientific care kit that is reach driven and on no account a health care kit which cares type of peoples wellbeing. Why do you contemplate our medicine are manufactured or manufactured? Its by assertion they are able to then be patented and corporations reach from them. That would most likely be the reason you are going to rather a lot on no account be awarded strategies to vanquish a health subject matter by pure potential.



We dont have a terrific health care kit for any personal with melanoma and our three strategies of treating it seldom solves the topic matter.

We don't seem to be to be successful the warfare in the direction of melanoma inspite of what we are being instructed and greater persons now don't seem to be to be surviving the ailment. The motives being our scientific kit is slightly concentrated on removing the melanoma growths in its local of addressing the root explanation for the topic matter for this reason those growths first seemed. Unfortunately melanoma remedies this day are all type of reach and the handiest approach that you only could reach from it truly is by treating warning signs in its local of coping with the motives why it seemed.

Cancer is slightly a newest day subject matter and its introduced about incidentally we are actually living. Also we don't seem to be to be being taught what we'll be able to do to assist ourselves. We are stored ignorant type of its many causes so we are pressured to count on the so that is called mavens for remedy.

The reason persons fear the ailment is by assertion anybody is familiar with the remedies the complete time dont work. Until our scientific kit alterations the strategy they treat the ailment the ones figures arent going to modification. The conventional approach to melanoma is that it truly is a genetic subject matter and the perfect advantageous strategy is early detection accompanied by surgical treatment, radiation or chemotherapy. This strategy as a rule has been a dismal failure.

The melanoma charge has been progressively climbing over the preceding 100 years and its although expanding and
expected to effect 1 in 2.5 persons throughout the western organized world by 2015. Ten years prior to across the globe there have been 6.5 million persons dying of melanoma every year and throughout the year thats merely preceding that father or mother has enormous to almost eight million persons. That represents over twenty thousand persons a day across the globe that our scientific kit didn't remedy.

While anybody is inclined for a remedy to be came upon, the information are if a user wasnt staring at to make coins out of melanoma, we'd most likely have a remedy tomorrow. True remedies for melanoma involve correcting the motives why it seemed but not anyone can reach from that. All you are going to need to do is to eradicate the motives why it grew and as a strategy to let the body to self heal throughout the procedure the immune kit. This kit is worthy when any personal breaks a bone or cuts a finger and for positive it also works for all styles of melanoma as neatly.

When a user is regarded with melanoma they have got a tendency to desert all famous sense and summit to our orthodox scientific remedies by blind faith. While our mainstream health care kit is unprecedented for an bad lot of scientific complications but if it involves degenerative illnesses like melanoma it as a rule fails. There is merely one approach to strategy the melanoma subject matter and it really is to accurate the motives why it passed off.

Nature has at all instances had a remedy for melanoma so all you are going to need to do is to turn to nature to allow you to together with your subject matter. Cancer is merely not an remoted subject matter, it truly is a reminder telling you that anything is mistaken with the comprehensive body so its time to make an bad lot of integral alterations. Cancer will happen throughout the body when the bodys immune kit has been weakened and allowed cells to divide with out administration and you utterly cant repair that with a pill.

The Truth about Mesothelioma

The Truth about Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma signs and symptoms can stove from sufferer to sufferer. Mesothelioma attorneys incessantly struggle with the lack of knowledge of the normal population associated to mesothelioma in straightforward words as an poor lot as they do towards an oversized producer's protection attorneys. One might make a valiant compare up on to highest likely reside by utilising this dreaded infirmity by searching for to take locate its signs and symptoms and the process to detect it as early as doable. While the afflicted works to survive, mesothelioma attorneys work to strike returned on the cheating business that colluded to disguise the risks of asbestos publicity.



Where can I locate added advise?

Mesothelioma signs and symptoms be especially inconsistent, which will trigger a flawless variety of incorrect diagnoses and misunderstandings. Far too incessantly man or girls could have no signs and symptoms for years after publicity, which is on account of incontrovertible assertion that mesothelioma grows slowly within man or girls's body. This can trigger technologies medication time now not being applied.

What be played virtually mesothelioma?

How can man or girls inform if they've have been given it? Only a physician can diagnose mesothelioma. Mesothelioma signs and symptoms are different and that they'll incessantly be wondered with signs and symptoms of many other health difficulties. Mesothelioma signs and symptoms might just embody shortness of breath, a mass in the belly arena, fever, evening sweats, a normal feeling of sickness, and this sort of lot of the many signs and symptoms which will just be discussed
with a scientific professional. Often mesothelioma attorneys show their purchasers that a flawless variety of of the signs and symptoms they would just have believed to be a factor else are truely manner to this sickness.

Why is it so hard to diagnose this sickness?

Medical mavens are in highest circumstances strolling on more up thus far and increased equipment to regard all types of sickness, but to this point there have been few breakthroughs. Much of the work being played with regard to this sickness contains mesothelioma attorneys mounting circumstances towards the asbestos constitution business, which hid undemanding advise with regard to the technologies dangers of asbestos publicity. Tens of hundreds and hundreds of folk might just have been exposed, which would in all likelihood trigger gigantic numbers of mesothelioma circumstances.

What exactly is mesothelioma? This is a fashion of melanoma that impacts the lining of in straightforward words some internal organs; in conjunction with the lungs, center, and belly cavity. This elegance of melanoma is occasionally for that reason of publicity to a fashion of insulating cloth spoke of as asbestos. Mesothelioma signs and symptoms would perchance now not begin for years, and even decades, after one is exposed to this poisonous cloth.

The free net page www.MesotheliomaNews.com is posted by the regulation organization of Baron and Budd, P.C., a outstanding regulation organization with seasoned mesothelioma attorneys. Visit them on line to locate added advise virtually mesothelioma signs and symptoms and the process to positioned experienced mesothelioma attorneys.

Top four Tips for Taking Proper Care of a Disabled Family Member

Top four Tips for Taking Proper Care of a Disabled Family Member
Getting additional information wont solely make your life less tough, but additionally information battle the isolation you will have to in all likelihood additionally get jointly while youre looking after your circle of family members member unmarried-handedly.



The information ought to in all likelihood additionally crush you and additionally have you ever at your wits finish. However, you will be able to would truly like to depart no stones unturned while caring for that circle of family members member.

3. Get Help When Needed

2. Maintaining Your Loved Ones Health and Well-Being

Join a native or on-line aid network. A aid network ought to have the functionality to percentage recommendation and attach with of us who're coping with identical troubles. There are several inside sight and united states of america extensive groups that provide functions, leisure circumstances and recommendation with regards to of us with exotic demands. Consider becoming a member of them.

You ought to in all likelihood additionally be vexed almost several worries reminiscent of assembly his/her demands in actuality, giving him/her appropriate lodging, and getting to grasp more with regards to the fitness care functions reachable for him/her. Fortunately, with the plethora of disability aids reachable in modern times, your job can get a area less tough.

Make precise to investigation with regards to the essential qualities linked to his/her disability adding remedy probabilities, resultseasily that ought to in all likelihood most naturally most naturally be anticipated, and the class and of information which can likely be important.

Learn more almost his/her fitness challenge(s). Several situations ought to in all likelihood most naturally most naturally be managed and monitored at home efficaciously. However, there are others that ought to in all likelihood additionally require managed care facility or per hazard lengthy stays at the hospital. Being entreated will information you are making entreated fitness judgements with regards to him/her.

What happens while a circle of family members member is regarded with a disability?

1. Learn almost Your Family Members Disability

Keep in contact along with your contributors of the circle of family members doctor. Talk to him/her in really verifiable reality while youre going due to an factor or having a worry with regards to your contributors of the circle of family members fitness. Take care of the qualities that he/she asks you to. Moreover, preserve abreast of the changes and the advancements in your contributors of the circle of family members fitness.

Here are several regulation that let you are taking ideal care of your circle of family members member.

Taking care of a circle of family members member who has a disability incessantly is a particularly tough job. There ought to in all likelihood additionally be times in case you will have to in all likelihood additionally sense pissed off and would need to resign. But, it is merely whereby that you're keen on to be robust and ascertain that the frustration doesnt get to you. In tough times like these, it is merely premiere to ask for information.

Taking care of a circle of family members member with exotic demands ought to in all likelihood most naturally most naturally be downright tough. It can drain you either, bodily and emotionally. However, it has its own pluses and can show to be the high effective. Moreover, the happiness he/she will get jointly by having you by their detail will touch you deeply. Follow the above-noted regulation and that you just'd be able to information fortify
his/her day-by-day dwelling. Being along with your circle of family members member while he/she demands you the high and taking ideal care of him/her will additionally affect your life profoundly and enrich it added.

Gather as masses recommendation as imaginable almost your contributors of the circle of family members disability. This will information you recognize his/her demands in a stronger means.

A circle of family members member with a disability ought to in all likelihood additionally require additional care and consciousness. Work out his/her demands in order that he/she will continue to be a healthy and fulfilling life.

four. Other Essentials to Keep in Mind

Also, changed into familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and other state and united states of america extensive provisions. Learn how and while to exercise session them to your challenge.

Renovate the condo and make it more reachable and disabled-friendly. This will information your circle of family members member continue to be conveniently and address his/her day-by-day tasks independently.
Plan trips and visits out of doors along with your circle of family members member from time-to-time as which can information smash the monotony of his/her customary recurring.
If he/she is attracted to leisure circumstances, then that you just'd be able to deal with that in mind and information him/her plan his/her recurring as a result.
You ought to have belif obtaining a e book canine in your circle of family members member if he/she is fond of pets. A e book canine will not solely serve as an appealing accomplice, but additionally fortify his/her day-by-day dwelling to an appealing volume.
Use know-how to your virtue. Assistive items reminiscent of wheelchairs, knee walkers and mobility scooters can information maximize your contributors of the circle of family members independence and productivity. They ought to in all likelihood most naturally make their day-by-day dwelling less tough and larger.
Most importantly, almost always have a look at the vivid detail. Dont middle of supply attention to unachieved milestones. Instead, bear in mind of your contributors of the circle of family members strengths and have relaxing his/her accomplishments. This will motivate him/her considerably.

Wondering the high life like solution to start off?

However, dont forget about to care for yourself indoors the approach of browsing after your circle of family members member. You should be bodily and mentally healthy that enables you to care for him/her indoors the neatest procedure.

Dont let caregiving eat your life particularly. You would need to maintain a formal balance between the 2. For this, it is merely important that you just maintain your fitness, specific interests and leisure pursuits. Most importantly, dont strain your limits. Set sincere expectations.

Consuming a healthy and balanced dining regimen
Indulging in really circumstances on an every one and each unmarried day groundwork
Meditating for sustaining up peace of mind and managing strain
Strictly avoiding substance abuse

With a healthy mind, physique and soul, your circle of family members member will likely be well geared up to middle of focal factor more priceless on his/her aims, aims, and continue to be a happier life.

Make assured that he/she adopts a healthy life-fashion, one which carries the next:

Moreover, all that your circle of family members member demands is your love and aid. Give him/her that and that you just'd be able to information him/her maintain his/her fulfilling fitness.

Trasylol Injections May Cause Stroke, or even worse "DEATH"

Trasylol Injections May Cause Stroke, or even worse "DEATH"
If You Have Experienced Side Effects



But the drug, which is used in 60 percent of all pass procedures, in statement contributes to decreased health in pass patients by doubling core pass patients' menace of installing dialysis-demanding kidney failure, besides growing the opportunity of fate strokes, core attacks, and even loss of life.

Patients who have surpassed by way of intense core-linked surgical procedures like core pass surgery don't have to still continue the struggling that may nicely perhaps also be regarding Trasylol-Aprotinin's awful facet outcomes.

In addition, Trasylol has been examined to make pass surgery patients twice as likely to go by way of kidney failure. This will lead to loads of tens of millions of cash in healthcare charges - a ramification of that stands in stark distinction to Bayer's December 2005 announcement that the drug had a $615 million revenue skills.

In statement, it is predicted that use of the Trasylol-Aprotinin injection causes 10,000 stipulations of kidney failure in core pass patients every yr.

Your Trasylol lawyer can check your skills case, permit you file your lawsuit, and even permit you advantage monetary repayment for your scientific expenditures, lost wages, fate scientific care and pain and struggling by cause of the the grim facet outcomes of Trasylol-Aprotinin.

And the handbook don't stop there - a January 2006 find out about by researchers on the Ischemic Research and Education Foundation in California stated that switching to steady Trasylol possibilities, reminiscent of tranexamic acid or aminocaproic acid, may nicely perhaps no longer a lot particular evade over 11,000 kidney
headaches a yr, however may nicely perhaps additionally scale back worldwide drug charges by over $200 million and save over one thousand million healthcare cash. Serious handbook for a drug that has been given upward thrust to extreme scientific disorders.

10,000 is a actually integral number...however what approximately 109 or perhaps 181 percent? These are the odds by which Trasylol patients are at menace for core failure and stroke, respectively.

If you would have experienced negative facet outcomes by cause of the your use of injectable Trasylol-Aprotinin, adding however no longer restricted to encephalopathy, renal failure, core difficulties, or stroke, contact an experienced pharmaceutical products attorney after attempting particular scientific care.

Though the drug charges 10 times more than its steady opposite numbers (that have no longer been examined to provoke any awful renal or core symptoms), Bayer AG maintains to put it on the market and sell it to over 1 million pass and other core surgery patients consistent with yr.

Bayer Continues to Market and Promote

As lately as March 2006, Bayer AG persisted to vehemently defend and industry its potentially awful drug, Trasylol. It is currently pushing to have the drug authorised for use in hip alternative surgeries, consequently widening the drug's skills industry - and exposing an ever higher industry to its awful facet outcomes.

Other Staggering Statistics

Trasylol-Aprotinin, an injectable drug produced by the colossal German pharmaceutical conglomerate Bayer AG, is invariably used to administer bleeding after core pass surgery and other core-linked procedures.

What Is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma Cancer - Prognosis, Treatment and Survival

What Is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma Cancer - Prognosis, Treatment and Survival
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops from cells of the mesothelium, the lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body.


The main purpose of the mesothelium is to produce a lubricating fluid that is released between layers. This fluid provides a slippery and protective surface to allow movement between tissues and organs. For example, it allows the lungs or abdomen to expand and contract smoothly.
When the cells of the mesothelium turn cancerous they become mesothelioma. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. Sites of mesothelioma are typically the pleural cavity (outer lining of the lungs and chest wall) and peritoneal area (abdomen). Rare sites can also include the testis and the heart. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma may include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall), chest wall pain and weight loss. Doctors will do a work-up which may include scans and a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was used in thousands of industrial and consumer products. Construction materials, automotive parts and household products, such as oven mitts, contained asbestos in the past. Many companies continued using asbestos even after they knew of the potential dangers. As a result, compensation is available for mesothelioma victims, through worker’s compensation, trust funds, and lawsuits.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been found throughout the world. It was once called the “magic mineral” because of its seemingly magical properties. These properties include: it is almost impossible to set it on fire (incombustible), it is nearly impossible to corrode (anti-corrosive), and it is actually composed of fibers so that it can be woven into other materials. It is also relatively inexpensive because it can be taken out of the ground and does not have to be synthesized in a factory.

All these properties pale in comparison to the fact that asbestos is toxic and cancer causing for human beings. Asbestos causes mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases.

History of Asbestos

Asbestos has been used since ancient times. Between 2000-3000 BC, embalmed bodies of Egyptian pharaohs were wrapped in asbestos cloth to protect the body from deterioration. In Finland, clay pots dating back to 2500 BC contained asbestos fibers, which are believed to strengthen the pots and make them resistant to fire.
Romans were said to have woven asbestos fibers into a cloth-like material that was then sewn into tablecloths and napkins. These cloths were purportedly cleaned by throwing them into a blistering fire, from which they came out miraculously unharmed and essentially whiter than when they went in.

While Greeks and Romans exploited the unique properties of asbestos, they also documented its harmful effects on those who mined the silken material from ancient stone quarries. Greek geographer Strabo noted a “sickness of the lungs” in slaves who wove asbestos into cloth. Roman historian, naturalist and philosopher, Pliny the Elder, wrote of the “disease of slaves,” and actually described the use of thin membrane from the bladder of a goat or lamb used by the slave miners as an early respirator in an attempt to protect them from inhaling the harmful asbestos fibers as they labored.

From Peter the Great to the Industrial Revolution

Over the ages chrysotile (a fibrous variety of the mineral rock that is composed primarily of hydrated magnesium silicate) is the principal source of asbestos. It was mined and used for a variety of purposes. During the reign of Peter the Great, Russia’s tsar from 1682-1725, a purse made of fireproof asbestos was obtained by Benjamin Franklin and is now part of London’s Natural History Museum. During the industrial revolution the use of asbestos blossomed. It started to be used to insulate factories, schools, homes, and ships, and later to make automobile brake and clutch parts, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, textiles, and cement.

Types of Asbestos There are different kinds of asbestos. The most common forms are:

  • “White” Asbestos (Chrysotile)
  • “Brown Asbestos (Amosite)
  • “Blue” Asbestos (Riebeckite)

White Asbestos


“White” asbestos or Chrysotile which is obtained from serpentine rocks. Chrysotile is the type most often used in industry. It is more flexible than other types of asbestos and can be spun and woven into fabric. This is the kind of asbestos used in theatre curtains and firefighters’ suits.

Brown Asbestos

“Brown” asbestos or Amosite is a trade name for the amphiboles belonging to the Cummingtonite – Grunerite solid solution series, commonly from Africa.

Blue Asbestos

“Blue” asbestos or Riebeckite is also known under the name of Crocidolite. Blue asbestos is commonly thought of as the most dangerous type of asbestos.

Where is Asbestos Found?

Asbestos was used in thousands of industrial, commercial, construction, automotive and consumer products. The list of asbestos containing products is very long.

In the United States, chrysotile has been the most commonly used type of asbestos. Chrysotile asbestos was often present in a wide variety of materials, including but not limited to:

  • sheetrock taping
  • mud and texture coats
  • vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives and ceiling tiles
  • plasters and stuccos
  • roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles
  • “transite” panels, siding, countertops, and pipes
  • acoustical ceilings
  • fireproofing
  • putty
  • caulk
  • gaskets
  • brake pads and shoes
  • clutch plates
  • stage curtains
  • fire blankets
  • interior fire doors
  • fireproof clothing for firefighters
  • refractory cements and papers

Does Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma?

Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A leading cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure.

How Long After Exposure to Asbestos Do Mesothelioma Symptoms Occur?

Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear.

How Much Asbestos Exposure is Dangerous?

Although it is clear that health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only brief exposures.

Is Asbestos Still Legal?

In 1989 the EPA passed the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule which was subsequently overturned in the case of Corrosion Proof Fittings v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1991. This ruling leaves many consumer products that can still legally contain trace amounts of asbestos.