What
Exactly Puts People at Risk for Mesothelioma?
by
Robert Linebaugh
Mesothelioma
is a very serious disease. One of the reasons it is so serious
is that many people do not know what puts them at risk for mesothelioma.
The basic risk of getting mesothelioma has to do with asbestos
exposure. Asbestos is very common in many things and therefore
it is not very difficult to be exposed to it.
The
first cause is exposure to asbestos through one's occupation.
This is very common in several different occupations. People who
work in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, the
manufacturing of asbestos products (such as textiles), insulation
work in construction and building, and brake repair are at risk.
There are also many other occupations that involve asbestos exposure.
Men are often associated with higher mesothelioma risk because
many of the asbestos-related jobs are often held by men.
Smoking
increases the risk for mesothelioma tenfold. Mesothelioma is a
cancer of the lungs, and the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke
damage the lungs beyond repair. When cigarette smoke is coupled
with asbestos, the risks for developing mesothelioma and other
lung cancers are increased greatly. Persons who smoke should make
every effort to stop smoking in order to protect their lungs.
Environmental
exposure to asbestos can also increase the risk of developing
mesothelioma. Persons who live in neighborhoods near asbestos
milling or manufacturing plants should be aware of the potential
risk factors. Vermiculite, which is a non-asbestos mineral silicate,
was mined at Libby Montana. It was later found to be heavily contaminated
with asbestos. Many children played in the vermiculite slag heaps
that were located throughout the town. These children later developed
mesothelioma. There are 28 sites throughout the USA that received
Libby mine vermiculite that have been selected for a community-wide
evaluation of asbestos disease.
Another
risk of developing mesothelioma is using products that contain
asbestos. Asbestos is in a very large number of consumer products,
including many that are used today. Products such as electric
blankets, heat guns, curling irons, molding clays, deep fryers,
slow cookers, frying pans, dry wall patch, fake fireplace logs,
dry wall patch, and pipe wrap insulation could put one at risk.
There are also many other products that contain, or have had exposure
to, asbestos. There are many asbestos-containing products that
have been banned by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Unfortunately,
there are still products that contain asbestos. It is a good idea
to avoid using these products if possible, in order to reduce
the risk of mesothelioma.
About the Author
Robert
Linebaugh writes about mesothelioma. |