Brief History of Mesothelioma

A very rare type of cancer, Mesothelioma, kills nearly four thousand Americans per year. It affects the lining of the heart, lung, or abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma has a latency period of twenty to fifty years and is caused by exposure to asbestos. Researchers estimate that between the years of 1940 to 1979, an estimated twenty-seven million Americans were exposed to asbestos.

Many asbestos-containing products were installed in homes, businesses, and factories in the U.S. causing the exposure to humans when asbestos fibers became airborne. Many people are not even aware that they were exposed to asbestos. The exposure comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades, eating away at the lining of a person's lungs and developing into a deadly cancer, called mesothelioma.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a material composed of minerals with long thin fibrous crystals. Asbestos became popular among builders and manufacturers in the late nineteenth century. It has a resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage. It also has a strong sound absorption and strength. Russia and China were the largest producers of asbestos world-wide.

In the early nineteen hundreds, researchers began to notice large number of deaths and lung problems in asbestos mining towns. By 1930, England regulated ventilation and made asbestos an excusable work related disease, nearly ten years sooner than the U.S. Most asbestos airborne fibers are invisible to the naked eye.

Mesothelioma was observed in people that were exposed to chrysotile asbestos, family members of those exposed due to their place of work, and residents who lived close to asbestos factories. Cases of fast-growing lung cancer were reported prior to 1960 and in 1964, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study of asbestos workers, demonstrating that people who worked with asbestos containing materials were at high-risk of developing a dangerous lung cancer called mesothelioma.

Due to the widespread use of asbestos in construction materials, asbestos litigation is one of the longest, most expensive litigation issues in the U.S. today. Current trends show that the worldwide rate at which people are diagnosed with mesothelioma will increase through the next decade.

Mesothelioma is Preventable - Prevent Exposure to Asbestos

The only known cause of mesothelioma is via exposure to the mineral Asbestos. The Occupational Health and Compliance Assistance (OSHA) provides guidelines for the safe cleaning and removal of asbestos to aid in mesothelioma prevention. For example, OSHA has defined The Asbestos General Industry Standard and The Asbestos Construction Standard which contain standards for care of asbestos-containing flooring material. The standards are provided so that this dangerous material can be removed without negative impact on humans through exposure to airborne asbestos particles.

The clean-up activity consists of picking up the debris and vacuuming up the dust in a manner that has been proven to be safe for people within the vicinity. Furthermore, workplace regulations to prevent asbestos exposure require employers frequently monitor and regulate the work environment.

Seek medical attention

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos or is suffering from mesothelioma, it is crucial that you seek professional medical attention immediately at the first sign of symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, coughs, severe weight loss or extreme headaches.

The key to early detection is education and communication. According to researchers, it is vital to speak to a qualified mesothelioma professional if you suspect asbestos exposure.