Mesothelioma, Asbestos, & Silicosis
What is Asbestos?
What is Silica?
Hazards of Asbestos & Silica Exposure
Asbestos and Silica Related Diseases *(Mesothelioma)
Workers Affected - Are You at Risk
Asbestos Containing Products
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber composed of silicon, oxygen and hydrogen. When crushed, asbestos breaks up into extremely fine fibers that are too small to be seen by the human eye.
Asbestos was widely used by manufacturers and builders from the early 1900s through the mid 1970s. Asbestos was commonly added to a variety of products to add strength, to insulate and to act as a fire retardant.
What is Silica?
Silica is a component of sand used in many industrial applications. Silica becomes airborne as microscopic particles when sandblaster blast sand at high rates of speed to clean equipment, when workers mix silica flour, when sand is ground in foundrys and in other applications.
Hazards of Asbestos & Silica Exposure
Inhalation of air-born asbestos fibers and silica dust have been found to cause serious respiratory diseases and other health problems (see Asbestos-Related Diseases). Asbestos fibers and silica dust may remain and accumulate in the lungs. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma (cancer of the chest and abdominal linings), lung cancer and asbestosis (irreversible lung scarring). Silica can cause silicosis (irreversible lung scarring) and lung cancer. The risk of asbestos and silica related diseases increases with the number of fibers inhaled. However, doctors and scientists have not been able to established a safe threshold level for exposure to air-born asbestos or silica. Asbestos and silica exposure also increases the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Those who develop asbestosis or silicosis have usually been exposed to air-born asbestos or silica for a number of years. The symptoms of these diseases may not manifest until 15 to 40 years after the first exposure.
Asbestos and Silica Related Diseases *(Mesothelioma)
* Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which most often occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, chest, abdomen and heart. People who have manufactured, installed and/or worked with or around asbestos-containing products have an increased risk of contracting mesothelioma. Also at risk are people who live near asbestos mining areas, near asbestos product factories, or near ship yards where use of asbestos has produced large or moderate quantities of air born asbestos fibers. Symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains among others.
To date, there is no known cure for malignant mesothelioma. Prognosis depends on the size and stage of the tumor, the cell type and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment. Some treatments include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Surgery and
- Intra-operative photo dynamic therapy
* Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. The occurrence of lung cancer in people who are directly involved in the mining, milling, manufacturing, installation and use of asbestos and silica products is much higher than in the general population. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness and anemia.
* Other Asbestos-Related Cancers
Exposure to asbestos may also cause gastro-intestinal cancers including Esophageal, Stomach and Colon cancer.
* Asbestosis & Silicosis
Asbestosis and Silicosis are serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Inhaled asbestos fibers and silica dust aggravate lung tissue which causes them to scar. Symptoms of asbestosis may include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sounds in the lungs while inhaling (rales). In its advance stages, asbestosis may cause cardiac failure. It is important to note that there may be no noticeable symptoms for an individual with asbestosis or silicosis. There is no effective treatment to reverse the scarring on lung tissue caused by inhalation of asbestos or silica. These diseases may be disabling or even fatal.
Workers Affected - Are You at Risk?
If you worked in one of these or another jobs and were exposed to airborne asbestos or silica, or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, other related cancer, asbestosis or silicosis contact us now for a free consultation and/or medical testing.
Insulators
Boilermakers
Mill Right Operators
Furnace Workers
Sheet Metal Workers
Utility Workers/Power Companies
Welders
Heating Technicians
Longshoreman
Sandblasters
Hotel Construction
Asbestos Plant Workers
Power Plants (all jobs)
Military (Navy/Army tank units/Motor)
Heating and Air Conditioning
Railroad Workers
Chemical Plants |
Pipefitters
Machinists
Laborers
Operating Engineers
Steel Workers
Carpenters
Electricians
Iron Steel Workers
Grinders
Shipyards (all jobs)
Construction Sites (all jobs)
Home Improvement (all jobs)
Steamfitters
Cement Plant Workers
Plumbers
Oil Refinery
Industrial Plants |
