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MESOTHELIOMA and ASBESTOS
What is
asbestos?
Asbestos is the name for a group
of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers. The
fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long,
thin and flexible, so that they can even be woven into cloth.
Because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in
thousands of consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building
products. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were
used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in
the United States.
There are several types of asbestos fibers, of which three
have been used for commercial applications: (1) Chrysotile, or white asbestos,
comes mainly from Canada, and has been very widely used in the US. It is
white-gray in color and found in serpentine rock. (2) Amosite, or brown
asbestos, comes from southern Africa. (3) Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, comes
from southern Africa and Australia.
Amosite and crocidolite are called amphiboles. This term
refers to the nature of their geologic formation.
Other asbestos fibers that have not been used commercially
are tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite, although they are sometimes
contaminants in asbestos-containing products. It should be noted that there are
non-fibrous, or non-asbestiform, variants of tremolite, anthophylite and
actinolite, which do not have the adverse health consequences that result from
exposure to commercial forms of asbestos.
How are people exposed to asbestos?
Exposure to asbestos occurs primarily through inhalation, though it can also be
orally ingested. Substances such as automotive brake pads, floor tiles,
wallboard material, fireproofing material, and thermal insulation products have
been and continue to be manufactured with asbestos. Tiny asbestos fibers or
bundles of fibers become dislodged from such products and become airborne. They
can then be inhaled or can contaminate drinking water and be ingested. Federal
agencies have determined that inhalation of asbestos is hazardous, but studies
have yet to determine anything conclusive about other forms of exposure.
What are the effects of asbestos exposure?
Exposure to asbestos does not typically have acute effects. Rather, exposure
over time may result in chronic diseases with long incubation periods. These
include mesothelioma, cancer, and asbestosis.
Mesothelioma – There is also a very rare form of cancer called
mesothelioma whose only known cause is asbestos exposure. This is the formation
of malignant tumors in the linings of the internal organs or the body’s internal
cavities. This disease will be discussed in more detail below.
Other Forms of Cancer – Because asbestos exposure occurs most frequently
through inhalation, a very common effect is lung cancer. Many experts feel that
cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines can result from drinking water
contaminated with asbestos, but this has not been proven. As much as thirty
years can elapse between exposure to asbestos and the development of cancer
(generally referred to as the “latency period”).
Asbestosis – Asbestosis is a type of lung disease that has traditionally
afflicted naval shipyard workers. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can get
caught in the lung tissue. Asbestosis starts when the body reacts to the foreign
substance by producing an acid that is intended to destroy it. However, the acid
frequently has little effect on the asbestos fibers and instead scars the
tissues of the lungs. This can impair lung function, even to the point of lung
failure and death. Symptoms include shortness of breath and persistent coughing.
This disease can have a latency period of twenty-five to forty years.
Other effects of asbestos exposure can include pulmonary hypertension or
immunological effects.
What are asbestos containing products?
What is common to many asbestos-containing products is that
they were (are) used to contain heat (i.e. thermal insulation.) It is impossible
to list all of the products that have, at one time or another, contained
asbestos. Some of the more common asbestos-containing products are
pipe-covering, insulating cement, insulating block, asbestos cloth, gaskets,
packing materials, thermal seals, refractory and boiler insulation materials,
transite board, asbestos cement pipe, fireproofing spray, joint compound, vinyl
floor tile, ceiling tile, mastics, adhesives, coatings, acoustical textures,
duct insulation for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems,
roofing products, insulated electrical wire and panels, and brake and clutch
assemblies.
Some of these products contained a very high proportion of
asbestos, while others contained small amounts.
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The information
contained in this website is for informational purposes only and
is not intended to be legal advice. The attorney-client
relationship can only be formed by written agreement of the
parties. All trademarks are the property of their owners.
Attorney-for-Mesothelioma is NOT a licensed attorney. Local counsel will be associated in the client's state of
filing.
Attorney-for-Mesothelioma is not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization or any state bar.
ATTORNEY FOR MESOTHELIOMA
SERVING HOUSTON, DALLAS,
AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO and
GREATER TEXAS
NATIONWIDE COVERAGE FOR
MESOTHELIOMA
Copyright 2003-2005
©Sienna Design
Group, Inc.
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