Risks Factors Involved with Mesothelioma
In more than 70% of Mesothelioma cases, there is a record of asbestos exposure. According to a recent study, it can take as long as 30 to 40 years for Mesothelioma to develop. If you have been exposed to asbestos, make sure that you hire an experienced physician who has expertise in Mesothelioma. Even if you are not suffering from any disease symptoms, it is advisable that you get legal knowledge of Mesothelioma.
Asbestos Fibers
Asbestos is not good for your health but it is a brilliant insulating material. Asbestos is used in lots of products that need to withstand high temperatures. This includes electrical equipment, welding supplies, brake pads and ship engines. Individuals working in sectors involving manufacture or repair in these industries need to be checked regularly for lung disease development.
Asbestos is a collection of minerals that forms two types of fibers: serpentine and amphibole. Amphibole asbestos fibers are much more dangerous than serpentine. Asbestos fibers float in the air and there is a strong possibility that you may swallow or inhale them if you are exposed to them. You cannot expel asbestos fibers breathed into the lungs as they become embedded in the mesothelium (lungs’ thin lining). With the passage of time, the cells of the mesothelium will become cancerous. In the majority of Mesothelioma cases, it takes more than ten years for the disease to start showing symptoms.
Asbestos Exposure
Typically, people get exposed to asbestos because of their work as there are plenty of jobs in which asbestos exposure might occur. Asbestos is commonly used in industrial products like brake linings, cement, insulation, flooring products and other construction forms. The risk of Mesothelioma increases on the basis of asbestos exposure level. According to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency, there is no safe exposure level for asbestos fibers but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set limit of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter for an eight hour time. The best possible way to limit asbestos exposure is to wear protective gear.
Even if you are not directly exposed to asbestos, there is a strong possibility that you may develop Mesothelioma. You can be exposed if someone you live with works in an industry that uses asbestos as it can come home with them on their clothes. Asbestos is a silicate fibers group that occurs in the environment naturally so you can be exposed if you live in the vicinity of asbestos mine. Mesothelioma also occurs in individuals suffering from a Hodgkin’s disease.
The SV40 Controversy
Since 2005, a few studies have found that there is a link between the virus SV40 and Mesothelioma. The basis of these findings is the fact that injectable polio vaccines prepared between in the 1950s and 1960s were contaminated with the virus. According to some studies, around 15 to 20 million people may have been exposed. By conducting initial tests with laboratory animals, scientists found that intentional infection with SV40 can lead to Mesothelioma. Further, asbestos enhances the cancer-causing effects of virus. Other scientists working on human biopsy specimens of Mesothelioma came up with SV40 DNA.
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