Archive for the tag 'respiratory diseases'

Study Finds Increased Mesothelioma Death Rates In A Group Of Shipyard Workers

by Sam Gurgis

A recent study conducted on workers in a US Coast Guard shipyard has found a significantly greater mortality rate associated with lung cancer and mesothelioma compared to the general population. The study also found an increased general mortality rate.

The study followed 4702 (4413 men and 289 women) civilian workers who were employed at the shipyard between January 1950 and December 1964. The study then measured the number of deaths and their causes through 31 December 2001.

The study was conducted by S Krstev, P Stewart, J Rusiecki, A Blair and was published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The original study publication is available at http://oem.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/64/10/651.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is usually associated with exposure to asbestos. The majority of individuals who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos particles at work or home. Family members of workers have also been affected. Renovators of homes containing asbestos cement material are accounting for an increasing number of diagnosed sufferers. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear for decades after the exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include abdominal pain and weight loss. Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be difficult due to the fact that the symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases.

Since mesothelioma is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma can be best be prevented by avoiding or limiting exposure to asbestos in homes, public buildings, and at work. Workers that may be at risk include miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, railroad workers, ship builders, contractors and construction workers, particularly those involved with insulation. If there is a possibility of exposure (such as when renovating old buildings) protective equipment should be used and safety procedures should be applied. Asbestos was commonly used in building materials due to its durability and fire-resistant properties. In addition to buildings, asbestos was used in the manufacture of cars and ships and many other products.

About the Author
Sam Gurgis is a scientific writer and the webmaster at mesotheliomawise.org and sam-gurgis.com

Asbestos - The silent killer

Asbestos is the biggest killer workplace today. The people who worked with the material are in danger, a lung cancer mesothelioma, and asbestosis, respiratory diseases, which kill undermine their victims. Evidence of asbestos deadly effect on those who breathe its fibers is likely in the coming decades.

Asbestos was once welcomed as the largest building of the hardware available to the construction industry. Its high tensile strength, sustainability and flexibility, and the thermal insulation and flame retardant meant he could to save lives, the buildings are sound and wealthy industry. It was the first by the Greeks 2000 years ago. They were in the course of the risks to health, but he believes that his ability to the magic of fire, weighs well over this danger.

The dangers to the health, but all were “forgotten” to the turn of the twentieth century, when the researchers in medicine have found a large number of deaths and problems with the respiratory tract, which is in the cities mining asbestos. In 1917 and 1918, several studies in the United States have found that the workers, who were artificially with asbestos dying young.

The amiantose was diagnosed for the first time in 33 years, a woman in 1924, one of the studies on the workers, the asbestos in the UK. The investigations on the workers showed that thirty percent had asbestos-lung disease. Britain, the laws were in 1931 for the improvement of ventilation and recognizable to asbestosis disease associated with the work.

Despite the link between asbestos and lung diseases, the industry has also beyond the last century. At the height of its use of asbestos in 24 countries throughout the world, it was also produced in more than 100 The global production peak at more than 5 million tons. The building, shipping, the isolation and demolition waste, the companies whose workers are in contact with asbestos are often aware of the fact that her staff was in danger. They have no adequate measures for the protection of workers for damage personnel.

Unfortunately, the effects of asbestos, many years are visible. The people in the sectors of the construction of approximately 20 to 40 years old, it may be that more of their fate. Asbestos causes some diseases, two of which only those who had contact with asbestos, asbestosis and mesothelioma. The lung cancer and emphysema are most often associated with smoking, but often in the non-smokers, which in the past contact with asbestos.

It is believed that the worst still to come. The highlight of the use of asbestos was in the years of 60 and 70 how many people can develop lung disease, which in the near future.

Because of the latency of diseases, the asbestos we feel that we will see much more of the impact Mesothelioms in the next 25 years. Hugh Robertson, director of health and safety at the British TUC said: “A realistic assessment is that in the EU alone 500000 die in the next 35 years, half of the half of mesothelioma and lung cancer. Au Japan estimated 100000 die. If They come from Australia, Canada and the USA to a million, although an estimate under - and only for the industrialized countries. ”

The people affected by asbestos are entitled to a compensation from the companies that knowingly talks for many years.

The people affected by diseases associated with asbestos should consult an attorney injury who have the experience in asbestos cases.