Despite Controversy, Asbestos Research Moves Forward

Of all the intense medical debates that emerged over the course of the twentieth century, few were as heated or as wide-ranging as the controversy surrounding the health impact of asbestos. Long used as an insulation material in construction, asbestos began to be suspected as a potential health problem in the mid-twentieth century.

After a series of corporate cover-ups and public health investigations, the truth about asbestos gradually began to emerge in the last decades of the twentieth century. Strong evidence supported a link between asbestos and everything from respiratory diseases to cancer. Public institutions and private homeowners alike began the long, costly process of replacing asbestos with less hazardous materials. However, the problems were really only just beginning for the millions of people who were affected by asbestos exposure.

Although some researchers have predicted that the asbestos health crisis has reached its peak, the issue remains controversial in the scientific community. Research on the subject has remained active, and a steady stream of new results continue to be published in the leading scientific journals. This week, we'll review the findings of several recent studies that have taken a look at the health impacts of asbestos.

Many Workers Unaware of Asbestos Risk

Over the last several decades, a great deal of media attention has been focused on the health problems associated with long-term occupational exposure to asbestos. However, according to one recent study, many workers whose jobs require exposure to asbestos remain unaware of the risk associated with the material.

The study, which was conducted by UK advocacy group the British Lung Foundation, surveyed workers in a number of high-risk occupations, such as builders, plumbers, electricians, day laborers, carpenters, and gas servicemen. Many of these workers must carry out their daily duties in close proximity to asbestos-laden insulation and building materials.

According to the study?s findings, only about 12% of all the workers surveyed had an accurate understanding of the health risks posed by long-term asbestos exposure. 25% believed that exposure to minimal amounts of asbestos posed no risk.

Of those who had a clearer knowledge of the risk, 10% said they were under financial or other pressure to keep working in the field despite the potential for health problems. Nearly three-quarters of the sample reported having no on-the-job training about asbestos health risks or how to handle the material safely. The researchers said these findings underscored the need for continued asbestos awareness efforts in the workplace.

81% of the workers surveyed did not make a regular practice of testing new work sites for asbestos.

Expertise and Accuracy of Some Asbestos Care Providers Called Into Question

It's no secret that the asbestos issue has netted lawyers and plaintiffs billions of dollars in settlements over the last few decades. However, what has some medical care providers concerned is the possibility that the treatment of some asbestos exposure victims may be compromised by the promise of lawsuit money.

This suspicion appears to be partially validated by the results of a study recently conducted by scientists at the International Society of Radiology. According to the findings, a large number of the people who have successfully sued for damages due to asbestos exposure may not actually be as sick as they believe.

In one sample of radiology images taken from legal documents, lawyers? radiologists had diagnosed nearly 96% of the patients involved as having some sort of asbestos-related respiratory illness. However, when the same films were later reviewed by an unaffiliated third-party group of radiology experts, it was found that only 4.5% of the patients had significant lung problems.

The authors suggested that the radiology "experts" contracted by legal teams often had a vested interest to diagnose lung problems when none may actually exist. In many cases, the plaintiffs involved were likely unaware that any exaggeration had taken place.

The findings confirm previous reports indicating widespread irregularities in the asbestos care industry. The authors recommend more rigorous and objective screening of the diagnostic materials used in asbestos lawsuits.

Deaths from Asbestos Exposure On the Rise, Study Says

Despite some claims that the asbestos epidemic was declining, a recent meta-analysis of public health records conducted by think-tank the Environmental Working Group shows that deaths related to asbestos exposure have actually increased during the last decade.

According to the report, nearly 10,000 deaths annually in the United States alone are attributable to asbestos-related illnesses. In addition, one in every 125 men over the age of 50 dies from mesothelioma, a particularly damaging form of asbestos-related illness.

The group used these findings to reiterate its call for a complete ban on asbestos, as well as to urge lawmakers in the United States to pass more stringent regulations for the remediation of asbestos-based building materials.

If you're concerned about asbestos exposure and asbestos-related illnesses, talk to a trusted, qualified expert for a personalized risk assessment. And please check back each week for more of the latest health science news.

Asbestos and Lung Cancer: Research Findings Shed Light on a Deadly Disease

Asbestos is the name used to refer to a naturally-occurring group of minerals that were long prized for their unique insulating properties. For decades, a synthesized form of asbestos was used in much of the commercial and residential construction in the United States and around the world. In fact, the vast majority of the public and private structures that were built in the twentieth century contain elements that contained some form of asbestos.

By the mid-twentieth century, however, questions about the long-term safety of these materials began to circulate. Workers who were constantly exposed to asbestos as part of their job duties began to suffer from a number of specific lung and respiratory disorders. Accusations flew on both sides of the controversy, but it was not until the late 1970s that federal regulations officially banned the use of the substance in the United States.

Today, decades later, we are still dealing with the public health fallout of the asbestos debacle. Cases of asbestos-related disease are at an all-time high, and governments around the world are still determining the best way to deal with the problem.

Scientists are doing their part by continuing research efforts into asbestos-related disorders. This week, we?ll take a look at some of the recent findings that have emerged from investigations into asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma.

New Technology Boosts Early Detection of Asbestos-Linked Lung Growths

As is the case with most types of cancer, the prognosis for patients diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancers is improved significantly when the disease is detected early. However, conventional diagnostic imaging methods have often had trouble detecting lung cancer growths early enough to significant impact treatment outcomes.

Recent research conducted by scientists at University Hospitals of Cleveland may change all that. According to a recent statement released by the institution, researchers there have been putting the finishing touches on a new imaging technology that is expected to significant improve the effectiveness of efforts to detect early-stage lung cancer. The new technology is also believed to be particularly useful for detecting asbestos plural disease, another potentially deadly respiratory condition caused by asbestos exposure. The researchers emphasized the importance of early detection with every type of lung disease, and expressed confidence that this technological advance would facilitate more effective early diagnosis.

Genetic Inflammation Risk May Increase Chances of Developing Lung Cancer

Although environmental factors such as asbestos exposure have been shown to play a role in causing several different types of lung cancer, researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute may have pinpointed another important variable. According to the results of a recent study, people with a gene that causes lung inflammation may be at higher risk of developing lung cancer after exposure to environmental hazards, such as tobacco smoke or asbestos particles.

The researchers found that long-term inflammation of the lung tissue can be exacerbated by exposure to environmental hazards. Over time, the combination of these two factors can lead to cell abnormalities and aberrant growth patterns, including cancer. The study participants with the inflammation-prone gene IL1B were several times more likely to develop environmentally-related lung cancers than were their counterparts without the gene. The scientists argued that these results may benefit early detection efforts.

Women with Lung Cancer Often Fare Better than Men, Study Shows

Lung cancer is a devastating and debilitating disease, regardless of your age, gender, or health status. However, according to the results of a recent study conducted by researchers at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, female patients diagnosed with the disease often have an easier experience than do their male counterparts.

Whether their lung cancer was the result of tobacco use, asbestos exposure, or unknown causes, women with the disease typically experienced less severe symptoms and reported less pain, respiratory difficulty, and discomfort than male patients. The researchers argued that these findings may indicate that early detection of lung cancer is more difficult in females than in males. They proposed the development of a new set of early-detection protocols that might help identify early-stage lung cancer in female patients.

If you?re concerned that you might be at risk for developing asbestos-related lung cancer or mesothelioma, talk to your doctor for a personalized health assessment. Don?t forget to check this site each week for more of the breaking science news you need!

What Types of Housing Materials Can Contain Asbestos?

Any house constructed prior to 1980 could contain asbestos - a material which has been directly associated with the cancer mesothelioma. It is important that samples be taken from the house to be tested and analyzed by a qualified lab prior to demolition or remodeling.

There are many materials in a home built prior to 1980 that can contain asbestos. Both plaster and drywall can contain asbestos. Sprayed on texturing may also contain asbestos. Many flooring materials can contain asbestos, and in some cases in older homes, there could be many layers of flooring materials - each layer possibly containing asbestos. Older boilers can be insulated with asbestos. Seams and medal ducting can be covered with asbestos tape. Roofing materials can contain asbestos. For the safety of everyone involved, it is important that older homes be surveyed for asbestos prior to the beginning of any work.

Any asbestos containing materials must be removed by workers who are trained in asbestos removal and wear protective clothing and a respirator. The safe removal of asbestos should be considered prior to remodeling or demolition of any structure.

Remodeling an Older Home

In recent years, many factors have led to the increase in home renovation projects. In some cases, the dream of owning a luxury home can be obtained less expensively by remodeling or salvaging an older home. There are, however, many factors that should be considered before making this decision. One very important subject that should be investigated is the possibility of asbestos within existing materials of the older home.

Why Should Housing Contractors Be Aware of Asbestos?

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is very tough. If asbestos is disturbed during renovations or demolitions, workers could breathe in asbestos fibers. If workers breathe in asbestos fibers, their lungs can suffer permanent damage and they can get lung cancer. This lung cancer is commonly referred to as mesothelioma.

More Information About Mesothelioma

Although very rare, the lung cancer, mesothelioma, is a very serious disease. Mesothelioma affects the inside lining of the chest cavity and is directly associated with asbestos exposure. Please refer to the brief history or mesothelioma for more information. There are many breakthroughs in the treatment of mesothelioma, such as the drug Altima and a new drug Vinflunine (pronounced VIN-floo-neen), that was recently tested in Europe for the treatment of mesothelioma.

For more information, please refer to the National Cancer Institute website - Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers.

Consult a Professional

If you are a loved one suspect any asbestos exposure, it is important that a health care professional be consulted immediately.

Researchers Probe Asbestos-Related Illnesses and Emerging Treatments

The chemical and mineral compound known as asbestos has been recognized for its unique insulating properties for hundreds of years. By the late nineteenth century, asbestos began to be used widely to improve the insulation of homes, business, and other structures, a practice that continued until the mid-1980s.

Over the course of the twentieth century, troubling signs that asbestos may cause health problems began to amass. However, several of the most prominent manufacturers of asbestos building products undertook a campaign of deception and obfuscation, seeking to hide evidence of the health dangers of asbestos exposure.

By the 1980s, overwhelming evidence of the ill effects of asbestos prompted many governments to ban the substance. The medical literature proved beyond a reasonable doubt that asbestos exposure could be linked to conditions such as mesothelioma, tumors, cancers, asbestos warts, and abestosis. Less conclusive links have been found connecting asbestos exposure to respiratory conditions such as pleural plaque and diffuse pleural thickening.

The massive medical fallout from the widespread use of asbestos as a building material continues even today. Meanwhile, in developing nations such as India and China, asbestos is still commonly used to insulate buildings and electrical wiring. Scientists around the world are engaged in the pursuit of more answers about asbestos and its negative health impacts. This week, we'll review the findings of three recent studies from the front lines of asbestos research.

Researchers Uncover Link between Asbestos Exposure and Autoimmune Disorders

While the connection between asbestos exposure and cancer, mesothelioma, and other diseases has been recognized since the 1980s, scientists are now beginning to explore other health problems that can arise through exposure to the long-banned insulating material. One recent study conducted by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle suggested that a link may exist between occupation exposure to asbestos and an increased risk for autoimmune disorders.

Specifically, the authors found that individuals who had been engaged in professions that placed them in close proximity to asbestos stood a much greater chance of dying of systemic autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, than did their counterparts who had little or no occupation risk of asbestos exposure.

The study also found a similar risk between other environmental contaminants that are often present in some workplaces, such as pesticides, solvents, and benzene. In order to confirm these findings, the authors suggested that future studies be carried out that involve detailed occupational risk analyses among autoimmune disease sufferers.

Current Estimations of Asbestos-Related Disease May be Too Low, Study Shows

Researchers in Australia conducted a long-term epidemiological study of asbestos-related disease as a means of developing a model for future disease projections. Based on the results of the study, which was recently presented at a lecture hosted by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, past attempts to predict asbestos-related diseases have fallen far short of the mark.

According to the findings, future cases of asbestos-related diseases such as respiratory problems, cancer, and mesothelioma may far exceed currently-accepted projections. In some cases, the rate of asbestos-related illnesses may prove to be as much as 35% higher than currently predicted.

The main difference between the new model and past projections of asbestos-related disease is that it was once believed that the year 2010 would be the peak for such health problems. According to new information, it is now believed that the peak of asbestos-related diseases may occur much later, perhaps as late as 2060. Based on this information, the researchers urged public health officials and health advocacy groups to adjust their asbestos prevention and intervention strategies accordingly.

New Chemotherapy Treatment Boosts Survival Rates in Cases of Mesothelioma

The primary form of asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma, is notoriously resistant to most forms of treatment. However, the findings of a new study conducted by scientists at the Clatterbridge Center for Oncology in England may offer new hope for patients afflicted with this disease.

An innovative chemotherapy formula that combines the drugs pemetrexed and cisplatin was shown to be far more effective in the treatment of mesothelioma than the current protocol. Not only did the combination drug lengthen the lives of patients with the disease, but it also significantly reduced pain and improved quality of life, according to the study participants. Although more research will be necessary to affirm the safety of the drug, this breakthrough may be a promising first step for mesothelioma patients.

If you're concern about the risk of asbestos-related health problems, talk to your doctor to develop a personalized risk and prevention plan. Please check back here each week for more of the latest medical research news.

The Safe Removal of Asbestos

Asbestos was widely used in the construction of home and office materials from the late 1800s to the 1970s. Usage sharply declined after it was observed that people who had been exposed to asbestos were at a high-risk of contracting Mesothelioma. In 1964, the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) published a study of workers who had been exposed to asbestos airborne dust. The study confirmed this suspicion. Since the report was released, inevitably the use of asbestos fell.

Today, the public is faced with the chore of cleaning up these products from their homes and businesses that were built in the 1970s and prior. Understandably, the public is concerned as to the best way to handle the disposal of these asbestos-containing materials.

Removal of Asbestos During a Remodeling Project

A writer to Courant news recently stated that the condo kitchen in her house built in 1979 contains vinyl and she has been told that vinyl flooring from that era contains asbestos, which is a known cause of mesothelioma cancer. As are many others, she is justifiably concerned about the best way to safely remove the material without causing asbestos fibers to become airborne.

There are strict rules and regulations defined by the Occupational Health and Compliance Assistance (OSHA) which outline the safe removal of asbestos materials. OSHA has defined The Asbestos General Industry Standard and The Asbestos Construction Standard which contain standards for care of asbestos-containing flooring material.

The OSHA website states that the heaviest exposures of asbestos occur in the construction industry, particularly during removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Therefore, these guidelines are listed so as to eliminate any confusion as to how to safely remove asbestos. The OSHA provisions indicate worker training requirements and state that when demolishing a building, asbestos waste must be placed in sealed, labeled, impermeable bags and other closed labeled impermeable containers.

To be sure of the best way to remove asbestos type materials from your home or business, it is highly recommended that you consult OSHA's website located at http://www.osha.gov

Hazards of Asbestos

Asbestos workers have an increased chance of getting two types of cancer: cancer of the lung and mesothelioma, a cancer of the thin membrane that surrounds the lung and other internal organs.

Trends of Mesothelioma Cases

Asbestos cases are recorded as far back as 1899. The trend of mesothelioma cases shows a significant higher number of male victims. The trend has been attributed to occupational exposure to asbestos. Occupational exposure during the 1930s to the 1960s has been attributed to the shipbuilding industry during World War II and in the manufacturing or construction industry. Between the periods of 1973-1980, a total of 64 cases of pleural mesothelioma were reported in British Columbia, with an increased incidence in males.

According to a study conducted at Harvard University, the annual number of mesothelioma cases among males in the United States is near its peak and is expected to decline to a background level of nearly five hundred cases per year. The study attributes the increase of mesothelioma cases in past history to exposure of high-levels of airborne asbestos during the period of 1930s to 1960s.

Cancer Care and Early Detection

There are increasing numbers of cancer survivors today. Early detection and diagnoses of cancer are among some of the reasons for increasing numbers of survivors. As cancers are detected earlier, there is a pattern between increasing surgical care and decreasing chemotherapy. Additionally, as cancer is diagnosed during earlier stages, the importance of drug safety will also increase.

If you suspect any type of medical issue, including exposure to asbestos, it is highly recommended that you contact a health care professional immediately.