If you are in the construction business or employed by an industry that uses products containing asbestos, you may wonder “Are asbestos fibers visible to the eye”? Generally asbestos fibers are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Asbestos becomes dangerous when it has broken down into small fibers and is inhaled. It is nearly impossible to detect the presence of asbestos without taking the material to a lab for testing. A lab technician will put the material under a microscope to search for asbestos fibers. Asbestos does not cause an immediate reaction. It will not cause you to cough, sneeze, or your eyes to water. You cannot see, smell, or taste asbestos. If you skin becomes contaminated with asbestos it will not burn or itch.
Asbestos related diseases have a very long latency period. This is the time frame from when you are first exposed to asbestos until you become ill. Most persons do not become ill for at least ten years after exposure and some not until over forty years later. Asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma are all asbestos related diseases. Asbestosis occurs when asbestos fibers enter the lungs. The body will naturally produce an acid to combat the fibers. However, this acid can cause scarring in the tissue of the lungs and in advanced stages breathing becomes more difficult and painful. Asbestosis was first documented in shipyard workers. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer. If a person smokes and is exposed to asbestos, they have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that has only been linked to asbestos exposure. It is a cancer of the cells that line the peritoneum (area surrounding the abdominal organs) and the pleura (area outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs).
There is a lot of debate and controversy surrounding which types of asbestos is harmful. Some types of asbestos are thought to be more dangerous than others but all types of asbestos exposure should be avoided. Actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile (white asbestos), and tremolite are all types of asbestos. Chrysotile is the type of asbestos most commonly used in manufacturing products.
Asbestos fibers are not visible to the eye. If you feel you may have been exposed to asbestos, the most common method for testing is a chest x-ray. The x-ray will not show the asbestos fibers but it can spot early signs of lung disease. There is no known cure for asbestos related diseases.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The greatest cause of work related deaths in UK - ASBESTOS
People have no idea about the use of this product. Surveys says we can estimate of 65 to 70 Mesothelioma cancers and 130 to 140 asbestos-related lung cancers per year.
Asbestos was used extensively as an insulation product in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and thousands of British Columbians have asbestos fibres in their lungs and don't know they've been exposed.
The family members of the deceased union members should demand an autopsy to find out for certain if they were victins of asbestos.
There is also asbestosis, as well as Mesothelioma that is misdiagnosed and other asbestos related cancers (larynx, colorectal, stomach), which could push the number of new cases up to 250 to 300 per year.
Research says Mesothelioma has a long latency period, typically taking 30 to 40 years to develop into cancer.It is often difficult to diagnose and even more difficult and
frustrating to treat.
An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and
other building materials) and during automotive brake and clutch repair work.
WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH ASBESTOS:
Wear suitable disposable overalls and boots
without laces or disposable boot covers.
Minimise dust by Keeping materials damp -
not wet.Use hand tools - not power tools.
Clean up as you go – use a
special (Class H) vacuum cleaner, not a brush.
Wear a properly fitted, suitable mask
(eg disposable FFP3 type).
Double-bag asbestos waste
and label the bags properly.
Don’t smoke, eat or drink
in the work area.
For more info visit Fight Against Mesothelioma
Asbestos was used extensively as an insulation product in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and thousands of British Columbians have asbestos fibres in their lungs and don't know they've been exposed.
The family members of the deceased union members should demand an autopsy to find out for certain if they were victins of asbestos.
There is also asbestosis, as well as Mesothelioma that is misdiagnosed and other asbestos related cancers (larynx, colorectal, stomach), which could push the number of new cases up to 250 to 300 per year.
Research says Mesothelioma has a long latency period, typically taking 30 to 40 years to develop into cancer.It is often difficult to diagnose and even more difficult and
frustrating to treat.
An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and
other building materials) and during automotive brake and clutch repair work.
WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH ASBESTOS:
Wear suitable disposable overalls and boots
without laces or disposable boot covers.
Minimise dust by Keeping materials damp -
not wet.Use hand tools - not power tools.
Clean up as you go – use a
special (Class H) vacuum cleaner, not a brush.
Wear a properly fitted, suitable mask
(eg disposable FFP3 type).
Double-bag asbestos waste
and label the bags properly.
Don’t smoke, eat or drink
in the work area.
For more info visit Fight Against Mesothelioma
Monday, March 3, 2008
What to ask intially when you contact a Mesothelioma lawyer:
√ Ask about the law firm’s experience handling and winning asbestos
lung cancer cases
√ Ask about the cost of a Mesothelioma lawsuit
√ Ask what the general status is of victims winning Mesothelioma lawsuits
√ Ask about the timeline of a case
√ Ask what kind of information they need
√ Ask how responsive they are to your questions further down the road
√ Ask what the process is to retain them
√ Ask about the law firm’s experience handling and winning asbestos
lung cancer cases
√ Ask about the cost of a Mesothelioma lawsuit
√ Ask what the general status is of victims winning Mesothelioma lawsuits
√ Ask about the timeline of a case
√ Ask what kind of information they need
√ Ask how responsive they are to your questions further down the road
√ Ask what the process is to retain them
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