Asbestos is a term used to classify a group of mineral fibers that share properties of thermal and chemical resistance, flexibility, and hight tensile strength. The term “asbestos” comes from the Greek word for inextinguishable and was termed the “magic mineral” because of its’ extraordinary ability to withstand heat. There are six minerals defined as asbestos including: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite.

The history of this remarkable, but hazardous material dates back to at least 2500 B.C., when it was used as an ingredient in pottery making. Since then, asbestos has been used in a wide-range of products such as automotive brake pads and clutches, cement, ceiling and floor tiles, boilers, electrical wire insulation, gaskets, joint compound and adhesives, just to name a few.

Mesothelioma is type of lung cancer that is aggressive in nature and almost, always results from exposure to asbestos. At present there is no known cure for Mesothelioma and life expectancy is between 4 to 24 month from the initial onset of symptoms. Currently there is an ongoing epidemic of this disease in the US and it is not showing any signs of slowing down. The primary cause of the Mesothelioma problem is negligence on the part of asbestos manufactures since the1970’s whom did not protect their employees from the dangers of asbestos. Due to this fact and because the latency period for Mesothelioma is between 20 to 40 years, the court system has being inundated with pending asbestos cases ever since. It is estimated that asbestos cases will not peak for another 20 years.

Below are some statistical facts about asbestos and mesothelioma lung cancer:

Asbestos is considered a carcinogen, which means that it can cause cancer. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that occurs naturally in the environment.

About 70% to 80% of all reported cases of asbestos exposure occur in the work place. Over the past 50 years, occupational exposure to asbestos in the United States is estimated to have occurred in approximately 8 million people. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer that results from exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. There are two types of Mesothelioma, pleural and peritoneal. Initial symptoms of Mesothelioma do not appear until 30 to 40 years after first exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of Mesothelioma usually arise 2 to 3 months before the cancer is found and can resemble shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, pneumonia, chest and abdominal pain. Mesothelioma is a terminal disease with no known cure and victims die within 18 months of diagnosis due to the cancer being too advanced by the time it is detected. Treatments for Mesothelioma include surgery to remove the tumors, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of all three. Management of mesothelioma depends largely on the the staging of the tumor as well as the age and physical condition of the patient. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention may lengthen life expectancy. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 3,000 new cases per year of malignant mesothelioma are being reported in the United States, and the incidence appears to be increasing. Asbestos cases will continue to increase and it is estimated to peak around the year 2025, according to experts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations to phase out the use of almost all asbestos products in 1989, and these rules were overturned in a court challenge in 1991. Asbestos is still not banned in the US and there are about 5,000 products that contain asbestos circulating in the US. Most asbestos products are used as an ingredient in the making of a final product, such as vinyl-asbestos flooring and friction products, which are purchased mostly by the construction and automobile industries. EPA has not banned any substance for any use since 1991 under the provision of the law used for the asbestos ban. It is estimated that about 8 million people in the U.S. have been exposed to asbestos in the work place, and, or their home. The Congressional Budget Office claims that there are 322,00 pending claims. Fair compensation for mesothelioma frequently means a settlement of over $1,000,000. About 2,500 victims of Mesothelioma die each year. The disease is three times more common in men than in women. In men, the occurrence of mesothelioma is ten times higher in men between the ages of 60-70 as compared to men between the ages of 30-40. Due to the monetary value of Mesothelioma as a keyword search term on the Internet, there are bids on Overture or Google Ad Words of over $160 per click, which primarily involved law firms.

By: Luis Mon

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Foreign Exchange Trading

Asbestos, which is the main cause of mesothelioma, was discovered in the early 20th century. There were many articles written in the 1930’s that indicated that asbestos was linked to cancer. The very first to be written suggested that asbestos was the primary cause of lung cancer. That publication was called “Pulmonary Asbestosis.”

During 1955 a connection was established between the development of certain forms of lung cancer and the ingestion of asbestos fibers, which confirmed this theory.

Long ago, mine waste, which contained asbestos, was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. It was at this time when many people who didn’t even work in or around asbestos began to contract mesothelioma.

It became a risk to those who just lived in the neighborhoods of asbestos factories. A person no longer had to work with it to be at risk. It was affecting many others as well.

The last asbestos mining was stopped in 1966. It was rumored that officials knew of the hazards for years prior to it’s closure, but continued to conduct business as usual, despite the deadly consequences.

It is unknown why the mine was allowed to operate without any risk control and why the place wasn’t forced to shut down before that time. They were never even enforced to adopt safer work practices to make it a safer work environment for their workers. Every year there were more and more cases of mesothelioma reported and it was just getting worse.

The first diagnosed case of mesothelioma was of an Australian mine and mill worker who worked in the asbestos mining industry for three years. It was getting to the point where people who lived in the town where the asbestos mining was being conducted were developing mesothelioma as well.

This caused many problems with the people in the community until 1978, when the Australian Government phased out the town completely. The asbestos exposure was so great, that shutting down the mine just wasn’t enough. The town had been exposed to this deadly substance for so long, that the entire town has to be closed and condemned!

By: Emily Spaulding

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There are different types of mesothelioma asbestos diseases because the asbestos can damage various parts of the body. These are named for their location in the body as well as for their progression.

Some of these mesothelioma asbestos diseases are:

Pleural mesothelioma – This is the most talked about form of mesothelioma cancer as it invades the inner lining of the lungs and causes respiratory symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this disease. Peritoneal mesothelioma – In the body, there is a sac that keeps the body parts separate from the skin in order to protect them and to cushion them called the peritoneum. When the asbestos has damaged this lining of the body, it’s referred to as peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, weight loss, problems with bowels, ascites (fluid in the abdomen), and sometimes a mass is palpable. This cancerous disease can be hard to detect as the symptoms are vague. Pericardial mesothelioma – This is a cancer that affects the sac that is surrounding the heart, or the pericardium. When this lining is affected, patients can have problems with their blood pressure in addition to respiratory problems.Some patients will also have troubles with esophageal mesothelioma cancer which affects the throat of the patient. These kinds of mesothelioma asbestos diseases can cause troubles with swallowing and eating.

There are rare forms of benign mesothelioma too that do not technically have the cancerous symptoms and cell growth, but is still dangerous for breathing and the disease can affect your quality of life.

The main concern with each of these mesothelioma diseases is the spread of the asbestos related disease to other parts of the body. If the cancer has spread, it can become more difficult to treat or require more aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

While there isn’t one part of the body that is more reactive to the cancer, any cancerous spreads in the and around the heart and lungs are going to be the most serious of the three asbestos diseases.

These many types of mesothelioma asbestos diseases remind us that the exposure to asbestos is far more dangerous than we could have thought. And that if you feel you were exposed at any point in your life, you may want to check with your doctor about getting tested.

By: Dave Casey

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Prenatal Vitamins

Asbestos lung mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can develop in special lubricating cells that form a supporting sac around the lungs. It can take between 10 and 60 years to develop, but usually averages 30 to 50 years before victims notice enough symptoms to see a physician.

Despite its name, it is not actually lung cancer as the lung tissue is not the primary site of malignancy. Instead, it is the supporting tissue around the lungs that becomes cancerous. This tissue around the lungs accounts for around 75% of the diagnosed cases, but similar tissue around other organs can also be primary sites of cancer initiation.

Currently there are between two and three thousand new cases diagnosed in the United States each year (U. S. National Cancer Institute, 2002).

This condition accounts for approximately 75% of the cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a mineral deposit having the quality of heat insulation. It was used extensively throughout the world over the last century in the military, building construction, and consumer products until it was banned for carcinogenic effects. People can be exposed in the community, at work, in schools, at home, or even from the clothing of others who have been exposed. It is likely that most people have been exposed at some time in their lives.

This mineral’s composition creates a quality that is very friable. It breaks into chunks and then disintegrates easily. This allows microscopic particles to rise into the air where they will float undetected for long periods of time.

People can inhale these mineral particles without knowing it. The microscopic particles travel through the lungs, through the alveolar air sacs, and end up in the supporting lung tissue. They are impossible to remove, so the mineral particles stay there for life. They can slowly cause malignant cancer.

This condition is currently considered incurable. Usually there are very few symptoms until the later stages when the cancer has metastasized. After diagnosis, survival time averages between one and two years.

Early detection offers great advantages. It is always recommended that people who suspect they might have had some environmental exposure find a physician with specialized training to monitor their condition as soon as possible.

Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.

After decades of experience, medical research is now focusing on slowing or preventing the progression of this cancer. By learning all the biochemical pathways involved in the initiation, progression, and proliferation of cancer, scientists hope that they can find ways to change how cancer develops.

Since asbestos lung mesothelioma can take decades to develop into the fatal malignant state, there is hope that finding more early interventions will allow people to live normal lives. Researchers are exploring new therapies including natural substances that have shown positive laboratory findings in cancer prevention.

For more information on progress in medical research in this area, see http://www.green-tea-health-news.com/asbestos-lung-mesothelioma.html

By: Sharon A Jones

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Free Phone Line

Experiencing the difficulties of living with Mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness can often be an overwhelming burden on an individual. Not only is their daily routine forever changed, but the lack of information about their condition serves to exacerbate the situation by leaving them with a feeling of helplessness. There are several hurdles as well in finding appropriate information regarding these conditions; either individuals are assailed with an insurmountable number of websites, book, articles, and other resources, or they find difficulty finding applicable, scholarly, and approachable information they can easily use and implement.

While several Internet security groups, business associations, and anti-scam groups combine forces to deal with the ever growing threat of predatory websites, there still remain hundreds if not thousands of websites which seek to exploit those in need. This rings true even more so for those with a serious health problem like Mesothelioma cancer. These predatory medical sites often make claims of enlisting medical professionals, though these are often dubious claims at the least. As these claims remain dubious, this presents not only a questionable statement, but also brings about questions on the validity of the site. Other sites will offer complete home treatment for several serious conditions, yet these sites present the same concerns as others; there seems to be no legitimate recourse for the verification of their advice. These sites should be viewed with a degree of skepticism and only implemented under the guidance of a health care professional.

Though there are a host of sites that seek to deceive and exploit those in need, there are several resources an individual can use to properly gather information about Mesothelioma and conditions arising from asbestos exposure.

The first and most official resource individuals should look into is the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website. This site is updated often with the latest news and trending health care topics, including breaking news and recalls that could affect an individuals health. Specifically for Mesothelioma patients, the site offers a searching feature that allows individuals access to several pages of Mesothelioma statistics, research data, and continued examinations of the cancer. The CDC site also offers healthy lifestyle tips, articles on the latest advances and studies in the health care field, and other government mandated health related information.

Another resource which could prove helpful is the online, user-edited encyclopedia known as Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia where users can browse an expansive base of knowledge added and edited by scholars, doctors, and a community of learning. This broadly supported encyclopedia not only provides users with information regarding, for instance, mesothelioma cancer, but it also provides additional links to almost every facet of the topic. This functionality provides the user with a broad support of information on the underlying causes and concerns surrounding the condition which can prove incredibly helpful when making serious decisions considering treatment.

By: Katie Kelley

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Asbestos Cancer

Many products contain asbestos. From 1900 until well into the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in over 3,000 different products produced through:

· Construction

· Mining

· Milling

· Processing

Asbestos and its products create many small fibers that, when breathed into the lungs, cause serious health problems. The most dangerous health problem is Mesothelioma, a cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs.

In many countries this is still mined, processed and used. In a growing number of others, it is either banned, or its use is severely restricted because of the serious health risks associated with it.

It can be found in numerous everyday places, such as:

· Ducts

· Furnaces

· Vinyl flooring

· Shingles

· Siding

· Asbestos insulation

· Ceiling tiles

· Ceramic tiles

· Acoustic tiles

· Sheetrock

· Paint

· Automobiles

Asbestos can also exist in surprising places:

· Adhesive

· Fake Snow

· Ironing Board Covers

· Mittens and Mitts

· Wallpaper

· Yarn

How is asbestos used?

· The Construction Industry

It is used in many aspects of building and construction for insulation, sound absorption, pipe insulation and to strengthen cement.

· In the Automobile Industry

The automotive industry manufactures cars with asbestos in the brake shoes and often in the clutch pads.

· In The Shipbuilding Industry

This is used to insulate boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes. Sometimes, asbestos insulates ship’s nuclear reactors.

· Everyday Exposure

Asbestos paper makes daily life more convenient. For example, table pads use it, as well as beverage filters, wire insulation and heat mats.

In 1979, approximately 560,000 metric tons of asbestos was used in domestic products. That number is reduced today to less than 55,000. However, many products still exist that were produced before its use was restricted.

By: Peter Angelos

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Student Loan Consolidation

The latency period of mesothelioma is the most frustrating aspect of the disease to doctors and they have to wait until the symptoms of mesothelioma are seen in a patient. However, when the symptoms start to show, there is little that can be done to completely eliminate the disease. Therefore, mesothelioma is a very serious and fatal disease. It is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelium which is the protective lining of body organs like the heart, lungs and abdomen. The disease has one known cause which is asbestos. It is a natural mineral that comes with very strong fibers that can be inhaled or ingested into the body. They are used to produce many products which include crutch and brake parts, floors, ceilings and the products are as many as 3,000. People who are at risk include those who work in industries that deal with asbestos.

There are many symptoms of mesothelioma depending on the part of body the disease affect. When the disease develops on the lungs, it is referred to as pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal cavity. Some of the symptoms of mesothelioma of the lungs are shortness of breath, discomfort and pain, swelling in the neck, lack of appetite, nausea and the list goes on. When you experience these symptoms, have a doctor rule out other diseases. If you know you have been exposed to asbestos at a particular time in your life, you will have to give details to the doctor so that they can consider this as a cause of your illness. You might have a chance to be cured if your condition is not as severe. However, most cases are usually known very late and you can consider the treatment options.

Symptoms of mesothelioma may be controlled by the treatment available. Your doctor can recommend surgery after taking into consideration all the aspects of your case. The most common treatments option available are the use of drugs to kill the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy involves the use of a combination of drugs which can be used effectively to kill the cancer cells. This treatment is however known for its many side effects which include making the patient very weak. The drugs kill even healthy cells in the body an this is the cause of the weakness. The victim will also experience hair loss because the hair growth cells are also destroyed. The medication will seek to slow down the progression of the disease.

The symptoms of mesothelioma that affects the abdomen include the following. Fever, anemia, vomiting, loss of appetite, bowel obstruction, breathing difficulty, accumulation of fluid which will be known by the abdominal swelling, swelling of the legs and the symptoms are many. You are advised not to ignore the treatments available if you are confirmed to have the condition. This is because medication has been known to act differently in many people and it might work for a longer time on you. You can seek compensation legally so that all your troubles can be compensated in the best way possible. Make sure your hire a good mesothelioma lawyer who will guide you through the process.

By: Peter Gitundu

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Phantom of the Opera

Most studies show that asbestos was used in most construction until the mid 1970’s. Asbestos was used as a fire retardant material. The material was found in insulating products, electrical usage, and ceiling and wall coverings. Most of those affected worked in the construction industry. Asbestos was even found in cement, mortar, and construction adhesive materials. In the 1970’s there was a ban placed on the use of asbestos but there were no laws put into place to permanently restrict the use of the dangerous material.

Other occupations the runs the risk of asbestos exposure was shipyard workers and industries that include boiler making. The use of asbestos was used extensively in the production of ships that used fire fueled boilers for propulsion and power generating. The asbestos was used in the outer layer of the high temperature boilers and the high pressure steam pipes that fed steam to all areas of the ships. The largest risk came when repairs were implemented with the asbestos being removed for access to the boiler or steam pipes. The asbestos fibers would fill the work area with little or no air filtration in an enclosed area. If you or someone you know worked in a ship yard setting please advise them of your findings.

Asbestos exposure is extremely relevant in the steel and metal industries where the use of molten metals. Steel mills and aluminum mills were the chief users of asbestos. Asbestos was heralded as a miracle material due to the extreme insulating values. Many mill workers even work clothing that contained high amounts of asbestos. The daily use of asbestos gloves was still in affect until the early 1980’s. There is no question that the asbestos products saved many lives. However, the long term affect, can not be ignored.

If or anyone you know worked in the steel or metal mills in the 50’s through the 70’s please contact your health care provider and explain to them your work history as it pertained to the molten mill industry. You have legal rights and you also have the right to seek damages if you have contracted any type of mesothelioma. Please contact your local health care provider for more information.

By: Warren Milliman

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Spa Resorts

Mesothelioma cancer is a very dangerous disease that can attack some vital organs in the human body, it can attack the lungs, “not the lungs itself but the layer that surround the lungs”. It can also attack the abdomen especially the layers surround the organs of the abdominal cavity. It can attack the sac of heart “the pericardium” and cause malignant tumors in those areas.

The diagnosis process would be very difficult for two facts, the first fact is the very long time of tumors to appear, the tumors take from 25 to 50 years to appear and be recognized. After diagnosis has been achieved, doctor can begin the treatment plan instantly. The second fact is the high similarities between the symptoms of mesothelioma and other diseases.

The treatment plan of mesothelioma cancer can be divided to three options, the first and the most effective option is the surgery in which doctors will remove the tumors from the affected area. With pleural mesothelioma “lung membrane cancer”, doctors may remove one of the two lung as a result from the high prevalence of tumors.

The chemotherapy treatment can be a very effective option, it can be a very strong treatment after the surgery to finish all remain cancer cells. So, doctors will use this option in a combination with the surgery to make a good treatment plan.

The radiation therapy is also can destroy the cancer cells, it can also be a secondary treatment after the surgery. Doctors can use the available options to make a good mix and help the patient get an effective treatment for his/her meothelioma case.

By: Sean Shahin

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Get Mortgage

Asbestos has been used for centuries and is not, as some think, a recent product. At one time items made from asbestos were regarded as having an equal value to gold. In fact, it is reputed that Charles the Great, (King of the Franks in the year 768) had a tablecloth made from asbestos. It does have a resistance to fire and heat and has been used over centuries for this practical purpose – from historical uses such as lamp wicks and Egyptian burial shrouds through to modern brake pad linings. It has been used for high temperature wiring insulation as well as in the construction of buildings to insulate and protect against fire.

There are many forms of asbestos but there are three main types, white, brown and blue.

White asbestos: otherwise known as chrysotile is the type preferred in industry. It has a flexible property and has been used in many theatres for fire safety curtains, as well as for firefighter’s protective clothing. Some evidence exists that it is harmful but not as harmful as some other types.

Brown asbestos: also known as amosite, this type usually originates from Africa and is highly bio-hazardous.

Blue asbestos: also known as crocidolite comes from Australia and Africa. This type is believed to be the most dangerous type of asbestos, therefore it is extremely bio-hazardous.

There are other types that someone may come across, some of which include actinolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos and tremolite asbestos. These are not as commonly used industrially, but may still be found in some products.

The main danger to health from asbestos is from the fibres, which can be inhaled. The four main diseases associated with asbestos fibre inhalation are asbestosis, mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and diffuse pleural thickening.

Asbestosis: Caused by inhaling asbestos fibres, generally from heavy exposure. It is defined as lung fibrosis.

Mesothelioma: This is a form of cancer where cancerous or malignant cells are found in the mesothelium. This is the protective sac that most of the body’s organs are covered with. It mainly affects the lining of the lungs, which is known as the pleura and the peritoneum, which surrounds the lower digestive tract. Around 80 percent of cases of mesothelioma show the patient to have had a history of exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos-related lung cancer: For many years now asbestos exposure has been recognised as a high risk factor for the development of lung cancer. It is not possible, however, to put a direct number to the amount of cases of lung cancer, which have been caused by asbestos. This is because there are other risk agents that cause the disease, tobacco smoke for instance. Unfortunately it is not possible to distinguish which risk agent was the cause of a case of lung cancer.

Diffuse pleural thickening: As mentioned previously the pleura is a membrane covering which lines the inside of the rib cage and also surrounds the lungs. If asbestos fibres are inhaled, some may work their way into the pleura and this can lead to scarring and or fibrosis. This may cause the pleura to thicken. The condition will show up on an x-Ray. If this thickening spreads over a large area it may cause a restriction of expansion of the lungs.

It has now become clear that exposure to asbestos can be harmful. Because of this, the use of it has virtually disappeared. If there are products in the home that may contain asbestos, it is advisable to have a professional contractor inspect them. It is a complex process to remove asbestos and should always be done by a qualified person. It can be a highly dangerous and even lethal substance. If in doubt then call someone out.

By: Michael Russell

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Baby Clothing