{"id":1988,"date":"2018-01-02T10:10:24","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T10:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mesotheliomacommunity.com\/?p=515"},"modified":"2018-01-02T10:10:24","modified_gmt":"2018-01-02T10:10:24","slug":"causes-of-mesothelioma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imedicalsociety.org\/causes-of-mesothelioma\/","title":{"rendered":"Causes of Mesothelioma: Asbestos Exposure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Causes of Mesothelioma: The Role of Asbestos Exposure<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Exposure to asbestos is for sure the most important of the many causes of mesothelioma: it generates many grave health problems, especially regarding the respiratory system. However, this dangerous effect remained undiscovered for a long time, as asbestos was being widely used in various industries (Source<\/a>).<\/p>\n

It causes scarring of lungs, and the most dangerous disease caused due to asbestos exposure<\/a> is mesothelioma. It is an aggressive form of cancer<\/a> that is still not satisfactorily treated<\/a>, thus leading to quick fatal outcomes<\/a> for most people.<\/p>\n

People of certain professions are at higher risk of developing mesothelioma or other diseases due to asbestos exposure. Construction workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, insulators, workers in various factories, military personnel are all at higher risk of asbestos exposure.<\/p>\n

Apart from construction workers, workers in shipyards, power plants, steel mills are also known to be at higher risk. In countries like the United States, where asbestos is not banned, military personnel form the big part of the population that has been exposed to asbestos. Especially naval veterans are considered to be at the highest risk.<\/p>\n

Since 2018 the United States increased its imports of asbestos from Russia and Kazakhstan and the Government declared that asbestos is \u201c100 percent safe, once applied”.<\/p>\n

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Historical Perspectives of Asbestos<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Asbestos is a mineral abundant in many places and is one of the six silicate minerals. That is a compound of one of the most common elements called silicon. Crocidolite (blue colored), amosite (brown colored), and chrysotile (white-colored) are the three most commonly used varieties of asbestos in the United States. Out of these three, chrysotile was present in more than 90% of cases in the 20th<\/sup> century, and crocidolite is the most toxic of them.<\/p>\n

A huge population worldwide continued to be exposed to asbestos until the end of the 20th<\/sup> century, when the dangers of such exposure were well recognized, and it was regarded as the most important among the causes of mesothelioma. The industrial revolution of the 19th<\/sup> and 20th<\/sup> century along with the boom in the construction industry<\/a> and rising population lead to an increased number of people being exposed to asbestos. By mid-20th-century\u00a0risks to such exposure were well studied<\/a>, and thus started with the downfall of exposure.<\/p>\n

By the early 21st<\/sup> century, most of the countries decided to stop producing asbestos, and even going for a complete ban on its use. A notable exception is the United States.<\/p>\n

Widespread use of asbestos was fueled mainly due to its strength, fire-resistance, and insulating properties.<\/p>\n

Today most of the countries have banned its use and production, but not countries like China and Russia, which are now among the leading producers and users too. As of 2020 these countries did not recognize the exposure to asbestos as the most important of the causes of mesothelioma.<\/p>\n

In the United States mining of asbestos has stopped only in 2018, several years ago, although once the country used to be a leader in producing asbestos and related products. However, the United States continues to import asbestos due to industrial requirements.<\/p>\n

However, the use of asbestos is much older than most would have imagined. It was a material well known for its various properties in olden times, with one of the earliest uses mentioned 4500 years ago where of course, it was not known that the manipulation of asbestos, was one of the causes of mesothelioma.<\/p>\n

For a few millennia asbestos did not have much practical use, except for some anecdotal applications like its usage in making fire-safe tablecloth that could amaze people of earlier ages.<\/p>\n

Asbestos gained its importance only in the nineteenth\u00a0century, with the industrial revolution. In those times, it was the only known material to humans for its excellent insulation and fire resistance qualities.<\/p>\n

It was found widespread use in construction, factories, various industries, even in some type of clothing. For more than a century, it remained a material of choice in many ways. With an understanding of health risks posed by it, by the mid of the 20th<\/sup> century, it fell out of favor.<\/p>\n

By the early 21st<\/sup> century, it became banned material in most developed nations. Despite being acknowledged as one of the causes of mesothelioma, it is still not banned in the United States.<\/p>\n

Asbestos is nevertheless, still present in many old constructions. Thus continuing to pose health risks. Thanks to bans, the peak of asbestos exposure has already happened, and we are already witnessing a sharp fall. We are on the verge of seeing the decline in the diseases caused<\/a> due to such unintentional exposure.<\/p>\n

Exposure To Asbestos and The Causes Of Mesothelioma<\/strong><\/h2>\n

No doubt that exposure to asbestos is a 100% preventable health issue. Thus by preventing the use of asbestos, as one of the causes of mesothelioma, we can avoid the disease related to it.<\/p>\n

Some level of asbestos has happened in all population groups, as most have inhaled some quantity in their lifetime. It continues to occur to date due to the presence in the environment. None of the amount inhaled has been demonstrated to be safe, and long-term exposure sharply increases the risk of developing cancer. Exposure to asbestos is generally due to the inhalation of microscopic fibers.<\/p>\n

Exposure to asbestos can happen at home, at work. Asbestos exposure is quite common during the repair or renovation of older buildings<\/a> in which asbestos has already been used in large quantities. Some industries continue to use materials that may have traces of asbestos, an example being sandblasting.<\/p>\n

Particles of asbestos after the demolition of old buildings or renovation work may remain suspended in the air for hours after the work, thus posing a health risk to a broader population which may not be even aware of such danger and do not even know that is one of the causes of mesothelioma unless they are frequent readers of our blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Which Groups Are At Higher Risk Of Asbestos Exposure Related Diseases?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before its ban in most of the industries by the early 21st<\/sup> century, asbestos was widely used in various industries. Some professions were at higher risk.<\/p>\n

Military Veterans<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Asbestos has been used in making various military equipment until the late 1990s. Especially those who served until the 1970s has the most significant chances of being exposed to it. Until the 1970s asbestos was almost considered as a wonder material, that is why veterans make up nearly 30% of all cases of mesothelioma.<\/p>\n

Those who served in naval ships were at the most significant risk of exposure, where it was used as insulation, in air-conditioning units, pump valves to turbine engines. Asbestos was also used in various army transport equipment, and even in equipment for the air force. The causes of mesothelioma for these veterans is, of course, the exposure to asbestos in vessels inside naval bases.<\/p>\n

United States veterans, if proven by a specialist to have suffered from asbestos exposure related, disease can qualify for monthly disability compensation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

High-Risk Jobs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Despite the fact that the use of asbestos has been banned in many industries, specific jobs may still pose a higher risk to exposure like those working in the construction industry, shipyards, chemical industry, power plants, and oil refineries.<\/p>\n

September Eleven Attack<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It resulted in the release of around 2000 tons of asbestos. Those who worked to clean rubble, or living in the areas nearby got exposed to it. Studies have already demonstrated a higher prevalence of specific asbestos-related health problems in them. In these proven cases, the causes of mesothelioma are related to the exposure to asbestos released after the attack<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Products Containing Asbestos Not Banned In The United States<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Due to some of the unique physical properties of asbestos, it remains irreplaceable in specific industries and products:<\/p>\n