Asbestos exposure has been associated with the development of many serious diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma
(04/19/2011)
(courtesy photo)
Asbestos
exposure has been associated with the development of many serious diseases like asbestosis
and mesothelioma
. Contained in a wide range of construction materials since 1980, the fibers are still present in many buildings currently used as schools, churches, shopping centers, public offices and private homes
Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that attacks the lining of the body’s vital organs, such as the lungs, heart and abdomen, has been directly linked to asbestos exposure. Despite being banned in 52 countries, asbestos is still used today worldwide and an estimated 125 million people are exposed to asbestos at work each year.
“The case for a global ban on asbestos,” a 2010 study showed that even if workers were exposed to acceptable limits for asbestos, seven of every 1,000 workers die from an asbestos-related disease in their lifetime. The scientific community overwhelmingly agrees, stating that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Due to the long latency period associated with the disease, mesothelioma cases are expected to increase worldwide each year until reaching a peak sometime between 2010 and 2020.
In a recently completed study, the researcher Paul J. Lioy increased monitoring of environmental pollution and how it has accelerated the rate of disease in humans. The study, entitled “Exposure Science: a vision of the past and milestones for the future”, details the wide range of toxic substances that people are exposed to every day, increasing the number of diseases that have been created.
When toxic substances such as asbestos fibers enter the body, it does not necessarily mean that a person has a high risk of developing malignant mesothelioma. However, someone who has experienced very little exposure to asbestos can be just as likely to develop an asbestos-related disease as someone who was exposed for many years. Those who were exposed to high levels of asbestos from a single exposure, such as first responders at the site of the World Trade Center disaster, may experience harmful effects much faster than those who have been exposed over a long period time.
Everyday environmental pollutants, such as building materials and cigarette smoke may impair the body’s ability to expel toxins. Numerous toxic substances that fill the air people breathe every day degrade the body’s immune system. Even after the effects of asbestos exposure were widely known, asbestos dust is commonly released into the air during rehabilitation procedures, construction projects and a number of other industrial activities.