Asbestos Litigation Asbestos Removal
Lung Cancer Chrysotile Asbestos
Strong concerns about the health hazards
associated with asbestos had been described many times over the years. As early
as 1898 the Chief Inspector of Factories of the United Kingdom reported to
Parliament in his Annual Report about the "evil effects of asbestos dust". He
reported the "sharp, glass like nature of the particles" when allowed to remain
in the air in any quantity, "have been found to be injurious, as might have been
expected" (Report of the Select Committee 1994). In 1906 a British Parliamentary
Commission confirmed the first cases of asbestos deaths in factories in Britain
and recommended better ventilation and other safety measures. In 1918 a US
insurance company produced a study showing premature deaths in the asbestos
industry in the United States and in 1926 the Massachusetts Industrial Accidents
Board processed the first successful compensation claim by a sick asbestos
worker. Many American injuries from asbestos exposure came from shipbuilders
working during World War II.
The fine asbestos fibers are easily inhaled, and can cause a number of
respiratory complaints, including a potentially serious lung fibrosis called
asbestosis. Exposure to asbestos has also been determined to cause a very
serious form of cancer, mesothelioma, that occurs in the chest and abdominal
cavities. This aggressive disease is improperly referred to as a lung cancer, as
the malignant cells are derived from the mesothelium, a tissue found on the
inner walls of the chest and abdominal cavities and on the outer surface of the
lungs rather than in the lung itself.
When inhaled, asbestos is carcinogenic (i.e. promotes cancer). In the United
States alone, it is estimated that ten thousand people die each year of
asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and
gastrointestinal cancer. Asbestos has a synergistic effect with tobacco smoking
in the causation of lung cancer.
Other asbestos-related diseases
asbestos warts – caused when the sharp fibres lodge in the skin and are
overgrown causing benign callus-like growths.
pleural plaques – discrete fibrous or partially calcified thickened area which
can be seen on X-rays of individuals exposed to asbestos. They do not become
malignant nor normally cause any lung impairment.
diffuse pleural thickening – similar to above and can sometimes be associated
with asbestosis. Usually no symptoms shown but if extensive can cause lung
impairment.
The source of this article is
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this
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