Abatement of Toxic Fumes When Working With Composites

Any general aviation experimental aircraft builder will tell you that when working with composites and epoxies that if you do not have a complete breathing mask and excellent ventilation that the fumes will get you higher than a kite. And those fumes are doing much more than just getting you high, as they are toxic.

The abatement of Toxic Fumes when working with Composites is indeed essential, especially in the smaller factories, which sell to larger companies and corporations and make parts. While growing up I had a friend who made Winglets for airliners, which decreased the wing tip vortices and improved efficiency of the wing, thus the aircraft used less fuel and performed better at slower speeds.

These winglets were made of composite. The gentleman’s partner ran the shop and he did sales. Within a few years his partner had a stroke and then died and it was considered later that the fumes got to him even though they did have ventilation in the shop and understood the issues when working with epoxies and composites. These things can be very bad for your lungs and such fumes and materials when not carefully controlled have caused Lung Cancers too.

As the rush for lighter vehicles, parts and such increase so to will the use of sandwich composite construction and these issues will become more prevalent as private enterprise and small businesses pick up the slack, nevertheless no matter what size the company is or where on the Earth those parts are made or which people are exploited for labor; they need to think about the Abatement of Toxic Fumes when working with Composites. Consider this in 2006.

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Asbestos occurence photos

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Photos about asbestos fibers

You can see the fibers on this asbestos photo.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, commonly linked with prior exposure to asbestos. In this disease, cancerous cells grow in the protective lining (mesothelium) covering the internal organs of the body. This disease is commonly located in the outer lining of the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). It can also be found in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or the sac that envelops the heart (pericardium). People who contract this disease have invariably worked on jobs that put them in close contact with asbestos.

One of the characteristics of mesothelioma is that symptoms can appear very late, sometimes 50 years following first contact with asbestos. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, the disease’s most common form, include discomfort in the chest and difficulty in breathing. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, another form of the disease, include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain. Blood clotting, bowel obstruction and fever are other symptoms of this type of mesothelioma. If the malignancy has spread to other body parts, then symptoms may include pain, face swelling and difficulty in swallowing food. However, it is important to remember that these symptoms are not exclusive to this disease; they can happen with other less severe conditions as well.

Over the past two decades, the rate of mesothelioma cases has gone up. Still, in the larger picture, it is a relatively rare cancer. The percentage of cases largely depends on the populations’ exposure to asbestos. In the United States, it has been reported that that frequency may have hit the highest point at 15 per million in 2004. This trend is thought to continue in other parts of the world. Interestingly, mesothelioma is more common in men than women. The risk of this disease augments with age, but a person of any age or gender can be affected. About one-fifth to one-third of all mesothelioma cases are peritoneal.

Mesothelioma Asbestos provides detailed information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos, Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases, Mesothelioma Asbestos Treatment, Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer and more. Mesothelioma Asbestos is affiliated with Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support.

Asbestos Compounds

It is a natural fibrous mineral that is broken down into six chemical compounds starting with
actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite and tremolite.  The most commonly used in manufacturing is amosite and chrysotile.

Actinolite – tremolite are very similar minerals and are usually found combined in
nature.  Both have a high content of asbestos and are very dangerous to your health.  This highly toxic mineral is made up of moveable elastic fibers
that if come in contact with the mouth can cause asbestosis.  Several types of lung cancer including mesothelioma is formed in the lungs after ingesting
or breathing in the microscopic fibers contained in the mineral.  It can take 20 years or longer for the symptoms of these cancers to become
prevalent in the body.

Amosite – the second most dangerous asbestos known it is also called brown asbestos.  Amosite is the trade name for the mineral grunerite is a
fibrous mineral was mined extensively in South Africa.  Amosite is an amphibole which refers to the shape of the crystals that are long and
brittle.  This type of asbestos was used in the production on a variety of building materials including cement sheets.  This fiber was very versitle
and used in many building applications even floor and ceiling tile.  You may still find it in older buildings that have not been renovated.  Extreme
precautions have to be made to remove the material from a building.  Trained professionals with special equipment need to be contacted when this type of
asbestos is found in a building.

Anthophyllite a fibrous mineral usually brown or yellow in color mined and used in the United States in talcum powder.  Because of the wide
distribution of this product that was used throughout the US exposure to anthophyllite has touched millions of Americans.  This mineral was also
widely used in paint products sold by Glidden and sealent products.

Chrysotile this mineral is the most common found asbestos and the most widely used.  It can be contributed to 95% of the asbestos found in the
United States and therefore is a large contributor of the mesothelioma cancers found.  Chrysotile asbestos is a flexible it was used in the
manufacturing of fire retardant clothing, drapes, gloves and textile products.  This asbestos was used in the belts used in paper mills carrying
pulp.  This use created a lot of dust and has contributed to a large volume of mill employees contracting types of asbestos cancer.

Crocidolite belonging to the amphibole group this was the least used asbestos in the United States.  One of the most hazeroudous this blue
mineral was only mined in South Africa, Bolivia and Western Austrailia.  Findings show that workers from these mines had a higher risk of contracting
mestholioma cancer.

No longer mined this highly dangerous mineral did not have the heat resistant factors other amphibole group minerals had so was used primarily
in the manufacturing of asbestos cement products.

Tremolite most commonly found bound with actinolite this mineral is also found in the amphibole group of minerals.  Because of the heat
resistance and flexibility of the fibers this asbestos producing mineral was widely used throughout the United States.  A large group of companies
manufactured products made from this hazardous mineral.  Paints, sealants and plumbing, roofing materials all contained tremolite.

All six of these minerals are known to contain dangerous asbestos fibers that can be inhaled or ingested.  If exposed to any of these dangerous
minerals could make you susceptible to contracting a asbestos related diesease.

Asbestos Containing Materials

FRIABLE ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS:

Due to their high tensile strength, incombustibility, corrosion and friction resistance and other properties, such as acoustical and thermal insulation abilities, asbestos fibers have been incorporated into over thirty-six hundred (3600) commercial products. Thermal system, fireproofing and acoustical insulation materials have been used extensively in the construction industry.

Thermal system applications include steam or hot water pipe coverings and thermal block insulation found on boilers and hot water tanks. Fireproofing insulation may be found on building structural beams and decking. Acoustical insulation (soundproofing) commonly has been applied as a troweled-on plaster in school and office building stairwells and hallways. Unfortunately, with time and exposure to damaging forces (e.g., severe weather, chemicals, mechanical forces, etc.), many asbestos-containing materials may become crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder, thereby releasing asbestos fibers, or may deteriorate to the extent that they may release fibers if disturbed. Since inhalation of asbestos fibers has been linked to the development of respiratory and other diseases, any material which is friable, or has a high probability of releasing fibers, must be handled in accordance with the Asbestos NESHAP.

The following work practice should be followed whenever demolition/renovation activities involving RACM occur:

Notify EPA of intention to demolish/renovate, remove all RACM from a facility being demolished or renovated before any disruptive activity begins or before access to the material is precluded, keep RACM adequately wet before, during, and after removal operations, conduct demolition/renovation activities in a manner which produces no visible emissions to the outside air, and handle and dispose of all RACM in an approved manner.

non-friable ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS:

Because of the resilient nature of asbestos, it is used in materials exposed to a wide variety of stressful environments. These environments can cause the deterioration of binding materials and cause non-friable materials to become friable. For example, asbestos-containing packings and gaskets (Category I non-friable ACM) used in thermal systems may be found in poor condition as a result of the heat they have encountered. In petrochemical handling facilities, which may have miles of transfer pipes and fittings which contain asbestos gaskets and/or packings, profound degradation of the ACM may occur due to exposure to organic-based liquids and gases or to corrosive agents used to hemically clean these lines.

When non-friable ACM is subjected to intense mechanical forces, such as those encountered during demolition or renovation, it can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder, and thereby release asbestos fibers. When non-friable materials are damaged or are likely to become damaged during such activities, they must be handled in accordance with the Asbestos NESHAP.

There are two categories of non-friable materials: Category I non-friable ACM and Category II non-friable ACM.

CATEGORY I non-friable ACM

Category I non-friable ACM is any asbestos-containing packing, gasket, resilient floor covering or asphalt roofing product which contains more than one percent (1%) asbestos as determined using polarized light microscopy (PLM) according to the method specified in Appendix A, Subpart F, 40 CFR Part 763. (Sec. 61.141)

Category I non-friable ACM must be inspected and tested for friability if it is in poor condition before demolition to determine whether or not it is subject to the Asbestos NESHAP. If the ACM is friable, it must be handled in accordance with the NESHAP. Asbestos-containing packings, gaskets, resilient floor coverings and asphalt roofing materials must be removed before demolition only if they are in poor condition and are friable.

The Asbestos NESHAP further requires that if a facility is demolished by intentional burning, all of the facility’s ACM, including Category I and II non-friable ACM, be considered RACM and be removed prior to burning (Sec. 61.145(c)(10)). Additionally, if Category I or Category II non-friable ACM is to be sanded, ground, cut, or abraded, the material is considered RACM and the owner or operator must abide by the following (Sec. 61.145(c)(1)):

(i) Adequately wet the material during the sanding, grinding, cutting or abrading operations.

(ii) comply with the requirements of 61.145(c)(3)(i) if wetting would unavoidably damage equipment or present a safety hazard.

(iii) Handle asbestos material produced by the sanding, grinding, cutting, or abrading, as asbestos-containing waste material subject to the waste handling and collection provisions of Section 61.150.

CATEGORY II non-friable ACM

Category II non-friable ACM is any material, excluding Category I non-friable ACM, containing more than one percent (1%) asbestos as determined using polarized light microscopy according to the methods specified in Appendix A, Subpart F, 40 CFR Part 763 that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. (Sec. 61.141)

Category II non-friable ACMs (cement siding, transite board shingles, etc.) subjected to intense weather conditions such as thunderstorms, high winds or prolonged exposure to high heat and humidity may become “weathered” to a point where they become friable.

The following table lists examples and other relevant information about Category I and Category II non-friable ACM.

TABLE 1. non-friable ASBESTOS PRODUCTS

non-friable ASBESTOS PRODUCTS

From EPA Guidance entitled “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos- Containing Materials in Buildings” (Purple Book), appendix A, Page A-1; EPA 560/5-85-024.

Except for the following, Section 61.145(c) of the Asbestos NESHAP requires that each owner or operator of a demolition or renovation activity involving RACM remove all such material from a facility being demolished or renovated before any activity begins that would break up, dislodge, or similarly disturb the material or preclude access to the material for subsequent removal.

ACM need not be removed before demolition if it:

(i) Is a Category I non-friable ACM that is not friable.

(ii) Is on a facility component that is encased in concrete or other similarly hard material and is adequately wet whenever exposed during demolition.

(iii) Was not accessible for testing and therefore was not discovered until after demolition began and, as a result of the demolition, cannot be safely removed. If not removed for safety reasons, the exposed RACM and any asbestos-contaminated debris must be treated as asbestos-containing waste material and kept adequately wet at at all times until disposed of.

(iv) Is a Category II non-friable ACM and the probability is low that the material will become crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder during demolition.

INSPECTION PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR FIBER RELEASE FROM non-friable ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS:

Members of the regulated community (i.e. abatement contractors, industrial hygienists, building owners & operators, etc.) should become familiar with these procedures as they are designed to enhance compliance with the Asbestos NESHAP.

GENERAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES

1. Identify all non-friable suspect ACM and determine whether it is Category I or II.

2. If it is Category I non-friable RACM:

Is it in “poor condition?” [Is the binding of the ACM losing its integrity? Is the ACM peeling, cracking, or crumbling? (Remember, friable ACM may not appear in poor condition.)]

Is it friable?

- Collect a piece of dry ACM and seal it in a transparent, reclosable sample bag.

- Apply hand pressure and observe if the ACM falls apart to the extent that it is crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder. Does it occur suddenly, all at once?

- Send representative samples of the RACM to an analytical laboratory which is able to test them for the presence of asbestos according to the methods specified in 40 CFR Part 763 Subpart F, Appendix A.

- Ask the owner/operator if any ACM or RACM has been sampled and analyzed. If so, determine where the samples were taken and ask if the methods of demolition/renovation were considered when assessing the fiber release potential of the material. Will it or has it been subjected to sanding, grinding, cutting or abrading?

3. If it is Category II non-friable ACM:

- Has the material been crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder or is there a high probability that it will be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder during the demolition/renovation operations, thus rendering the material friable and subject to the Asbestos NESHAP?

- If Category II non-friable ACM has been or will be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by demolition or renovation forces, take representative samples and send them to a laboratory to test for the presence of asbestos according to the method specified in 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart F, Appendix A.

SPECIFIC INSPECTION PROCEDURES:

CATEGORY I non-friable ACM

Packings and Gaskets

These materials are often very difficult to find because they are usually placed inside ovens, doors, pipes, boilers, etc. Often a packing or gasket is discovered during a stripping or demolition activity. For example, some boilers have an asbestos containing paraffin wax packing between the steam lines that travel between the mud and fire boxes. The paraffin binding of the packing may decompose due to the high temperatures, and render the packing friable. Observe all of the packing and note areas that are in poor condition. Packings in poor condition appear dry and discolored, and fibers may be visible.

A representative piece of asbestos-containing packing material (in good or poor condition) should be removed with a utility knife and sealed in a transparent, reclosable bag. Apply hand pressure to the packing in the sample bag to determine if any portion is crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder. If the material simply deforms, but does not crumble or reduces to a powder, then the material is considered non-friable.

Resilient Floor Covering

There is a wide variety of resilient floor covering applications that contain asbestos. The most common are linoleum flooring and vinyl asbestos tile (VAT). VAT is most commonly found in either a 9″x9″ or a 12″x12″ square size. The 9″x9″ VAT’s are normally found in older buildings because they were manufactured earlier than the 12″x12″ VAT’s; however, floor tile sizes and resilient floor covering applications vary greatly since many buildings have been re-tiled several times.

In order to determine if a resilient floor covering is in poor condition look for sections or tiles which are cracked or peeling to the extent that they are crumbled. Floor coverings in poor condition can often be found near doorways or loading/staging areas where the floor has sustained a lot of stress and traffic. If the floor covering is in poor condition, collect a small representative sample and seal it in a transparent, sample bag. Hand pressure should be applied to determine if the material can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder. If it can, the material is considered friable. Resilient floor covering that will be or has been sanded, ground or abraded is subject to the Asbestos NESHAP.

Asphalt Roofing Products

Asbestos-containing roofing felts have been widely used in “built-up” roofs. Built-up roofing was used on flat surfaces and consists of alternating layers of roofing felt and asphalt. The roofing felt consists of asbestos paper saturated and coated with asphalt. Asphalt-asbestos roofing products made from roofing felt coated with asphalt were reportedly used on residential structures for only a short time (1971-1974).

To determine if an asphalt roofing product is covered by the Asbestos NESHAP, examine the RACM to spot any areas where the material is in poor condition and friable.

If possible, sample areas where fibers can be seen protruding from the matrix of the asphalt. The sample should be sealed into a transparent, reclosable sample bag and hand pressure applied to see if the sample can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder.

CATEGORY II non-friable ACM

Asbestos Cement Pipe and Sheet Products

Asbestos-cement (A-C) pipe has been widely used for water and sewer mains and occasionally used as electrical conduits, drainage pipe, and vent pipes. A-C sheet, manufactured in flat or corrugated panels and shingles (transite board), has been used primarily for roofing and siding, but also for cooling tower fill sheets, canal bulkheads, laboratory tables, and electrical switching gear panels. If these ACM are crumbled, pulverized or reduced to a powder, they are friable and thus covered by the Asbestos NESHAP. Broken edges of these material typically are friable. The fractured surface should be rubbed to see if it produces powder.

If Category II non-friable ACM has not crumbled, been pulverized or reduced to powder and will not become so during the course of demolition/renovation operations, it is considered non-friable and therefore is not subject to Asbestos NESHAP. However, if during the demolition or renovation activity it €becomes crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder, it is covered by the Asbestos NESHAP.

Source:

http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/asbestos/asbmatl.htm

EXAMPLES OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS

(This is not an exhaustive list)

A

Asbestos cement storm drain pipes

Asbestos cement water pipes (usually underground)

Air-conditioning ducts: exterior or interior acoustic and thermal insulation

Asbestos-containing laminates (e.g. formica) used where heat resistance is
required, e.g. ships

Arc shields in lift motor rooms or large electrical cabinets

Asbestos-based plastics products – as electrical insulates and acid-resistant
compositions or aircraft seat

Asbestos-containing pegboard

Asbestos felts

Asbestos ceiling tiles

Asbestos marine board (e.g. marinate)

Asbestos cement conduit

Asbestos mattresses used for covering hot equipment in power stations

Asbestos cement electrical fuse boards

Asbestos paper used variously for insulation, filtering and production of fire
resistant laminates

Asbestos cement external roofs and walls

Asbestos Cement in the use of form work when pouring concrete

Asbestos roof tiles

Asbestos cement internal flues and downpipes

Asbestos textiles

Asbestos textile gussets in air-conditioning ducting systems

Asbestos cement moulded products such as gutters, ridge cappings, gas meter
covers, cable troughs and covers

Asbestos yarn

Asbestos cement pieces for packing spaces between floor joists and piers

Autoclave / steriliser insulation

Asbestos cement render, plaster, mortar and coursework

Asbestos cement sheet

Asbestos cement sheet behind ceramic tiles

Asbestos cement sheet internal over exhaust canopies such as ovens, fume
cupboards, etc.

Asbestos cement (underground) pits, as used for traffic control wiring,
telecommunications cabling, etc

Asbestos cement sheet internal walls and ceilings

Asbestos cement sheet underlays for vinyl

B

Bitumen-based water proofing such as malthoid, typically on roofs and floors but
also in brickwork

Bituminous adhesives and sealants

Boiler gaskets

Boiler insulation, slabs and wet mix

Brake disc pads

Brake linings

C

Compressed asbestos fibres (CAF) used in brakes and gaskets for plant and
automobiles

Cable penetration insulation bags (typically Telecom)

Calorifier insulation

Car body filters (not common)

Caulking compounds, sealant and adhesives

Cement render

Chrysotile wicks in kerosene heaters

Clutch faces

Compressed asbestos cement panels for flooring, typically verandas, bathrooms
and steps for demountable buildings

G

GalbestosTM roofing materials (decorative coating on metal roof for sound
proofing)

Gaskets – chemicals, refineries

Gaskets – general

Gauze mats in laboratories / chemical refineries

Gloves – asbestos

D

Door seals on ovens

E

Electric heat banks – block insulation

Electric hot water services – normally not asbestos but some millboard could be
present

Electric light fittings, high wattage, insulation around fitting (and
bituminised)

Electrical switchboards – see Pitch-based

Exhausts on vehicles

F

Fire-resistant plaster board, typically on ships

Fire-retardant material on steel work supporting reactors on columns in
refineries in the chemical industry

Flexible hoses

Floor vinyl tiles

Floor vinyl sheets

Fuse blankets and ceramic fuses in switchboards

Filler in acetylene gas cylinders

Fire-rated wall rendering containing asbestos with mortar

Filters – beverage; wine filtration

Fire curtains

Fire door insulation

Fire blankets

H

Hairdryers – insulation around heating elements

Header (manifold) insulation

I

Insulation blocks

Insulation in electric reheat units for air-conditioner systems

L

Laboratory bench tops

Laboratory fume cupboard panels

Laboratory ovens – wall insulation

Lagged exhaust pipes on emergency power generators

Lagging in penetrations in fireproof walls

Lifts shafts – asbestos cement panels lining the shaft at the opening of each
floor, and asbestos packing around penetrations

Limpet asbestos spray insulation

Locomotives – steam; lagging on boilers, steam lines, steam dome and gaskets

M

Mastics

Millboard between heating unit and wall

Millboard lining of switchboxes

Mortar

P

Packing materials for gauges, valves, etc., can be square packing, rope or loose
fibre

Packing material on window anchorage points in high rise buildings

Paint, typically industrial epoxy paints

Penetrations through concrete slabs in high rise buildings

Pipe insulation including moulded sections, water-mix type, rope braid and sheet

Pitch-based (e.g. zelemite, ausbestos, lebah) electrical switchboard

Plaster and plaster cornice adhesives

R

Refractory linings

Refractory tiles

Rubber articles – extent of usage unknown

S

Sealant between floor slab and wall, usually in boiler rooms, risers or lift
shafts

Sealant or mastik on windows

Sealants and mastics in airconditioning ducting joints

Spackle or plasterboard wall jointing compounds

Sprayed insulation – acoustic wall and ceiling

Sprayed insulation – beams and ceiling slabs

Sprayed insulation – fire retardant sprayed on nut internally, for bolts holding
external building wall panels

Stoves – old domestic type; wall insulation

T

Tape and rope – lagging and jointing

Tapered ends of pipe lagging, where lagging is not necessarily asbestos

Tilux sheeting in place of ceramic tiles in bathrooms

Trailing cable under lift cabins

Trains – country – guards vans – millboard between heater and wall

Trains – Harris cars – sprayed asbestos between steel shell and laminex

V

Valve, pump, etc. insulation

W

Welding rods

Woven asbestos cable sheath

What are the dangers of asbestos exposure to workers?

The inhalation of asbestos fibers by workers can cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs that may not appear until years after the exposure has occurred. For instance, asbestosis can cause a buildup of scar-like tissue in the lungs and result in loss of lung function that often progresses to disability and death.
Asbestos fibers associated with these health risks are too small to be seen with the naked eye, and smokers are at higher risk of developing some asbestos-related diseases.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a type of mineral that has been commonly used for commercial purposes and has been categorized into two main types, serpentine and amphibole. Although six types of naturally-occurring minerals are officially recognized by the U.S Bureau of Mines as asbestos, more than 100 are listed as “asbestos-like.” The Environmental Protection Agency has identified amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite as the different classes of asbestos.

Scientists and doctors have linked all forms of asbestos to the development of serious health conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, among others. Chrysotile, the most common form of asbestos, makes up approximately 95 percent of the asbestos present in buildings manufactured before the 1980s. Scientific data has shown that exposure to the long, wispy fibers of asbestos can be hazardous to human health.

Asbestos Regulation and Exposure

Asbestos House Diagram

Although 52 countries have enacted a ban on asbestos use, those that have not yet issued a ban account for a large portion of asbestos use each year. According to a 2009 U.S. Geological Study (USGS), approximately 2 million tons of asbestos was produced by the late 1990s.

Russia is considered to be the largest producer of asbestos products in the world and exports asbestos to developing countries that have not currently issued asbestos regulations. In the USGS study, the major consumers of asbestos included countries such as China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Canada, India and Colombia. While Canada is a major producer of chrysotile asbestos, it is currently very limited for use in that country.

In 1999, the U.S. used about 15,000 metric tons of asbestos. Many major health organizations around the world have recognized asbestos as a known human carcinogen. In 1977, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, was the first agency to recognize the potentially harmful effects of asbestos exposure. However, many countries still have not banned asbestos.

Health Risks from Asbestos

Numerous medical studies have sought the source behind the toxic effects of asbestos on the body. In the 2003 Vermont Medical Center study “Multiple Roles of Oxidants in the Pathogenesis of Asbestos-Induced Diseases,” researchers found that oxidants found in the crocidolite and amosite forms of asbestos had a damaging effect on DNA and may contribute to asbestos-related lung injuries. Asbestos can cause the over-regulation of antioxidant enzymes in human cells.

A 2010 study by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the National Cancer Institute located a protein that played key role in the development of mesothelioma. The protein, HMGB1, was found in elevated levels of patients who had been exposed to asbestos. The researchers learned that as the result of asbestos exposure, the presence of this protein can lead to an inflammatory reaction that causes tumor growth. The study also found that asbestos fibers in the human body kill a cell through “programmed cell necrosis” or cell suicide. Researchers proposed that interfering with the reactions between asbestos fibers and HMGB1 may decrease the development of cancerous tumors.

At very high concentrations, asbestos fibers can cause the formation of lesions because the human body is not able to expel the fibers once they have entered the body. Cells in the mesothelium attempt to repair these lesions but are not able to and, as a result, the cells begin to die in massive numbers. The genomic alterations caused by asbestos fibers eventually lead to large chromosomal deletions that appear to be associated with cell death. Because the body is not able to expel these fibers, tumors can form.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure

The majority of asbestos-related incidences that occur each year are the result of occupational exposure. A large percentage of individuals who have been affected by asbestos are Armed Forces veterans. Higher workforce death rates have been associated with industries that had a history of working with asbestos.

According to the World Health Organization, about 125 million people have been exposed to asbestos at the workplace, and more than 107,000 workers around the world die every year from asbestos-related diseases.

The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that five deaths from lung cancer and two deaths from asbestosis will occur for every 1,000 workers exposed to asbestos in a working lifetime. Mortality rates may be higher in some industries. In one Virginia shipbuilding location, the occurrence of mesothelioma was seven times higher than the national rate. Some common industries that produced or manufactured products using asbestos include shipyards, construction and power plants.

Resources for Patients

If you have been exposed to asbestos, it is imperative to seek medical help before health conditions occur. Many patients are unaware of the potential dangers that asbestos fibers pose on their body, much of which they were exposed to years ago. Asbestos-related diseases typically have a long latency period, and symptoms arise later in life. If you would like more information about asbestos-related diseases.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Typically, there are three main categories for treatment of mesothelioma: established therapies, experimental treatments, and holistic therapies. Often these treatments are not isolated-or used alone-but rather as a combination of treatments.

Conventional Mesothelioma Treatments include therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin or alimta.

Experimental Mesothelioma Treatments, such as clinical trials, have shown encouraging results to date. Such treatments include photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy, among others.

Holistic Therapies for Mesothelioma also known as alternative therapies, include methods such as massages, acupuncture, TENS therapy, aromatherapy, meditation, and yoga. Holistic mesothelioma therapies are a way in which to relieve the side effects associated with established therapies.

These and many other treatments may be available to you at the mesothelioma treatment center where you are being treated, however, it is also important to discuss all of the various options you might have with your doctor.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. As with most cancers, early diagnosis greatly increases the efficacy of treatment. Unfortunately, due to the way it forms, mesothelioma may not manifest until anywhere between 30 and 40 years after the initial exposure.

Mesothelioma symptoms are generally non-specific and resemble the signs of more common illness, such as flu, bronchitis, viral pneumonia and heart disease. Some common symptoms include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, excessive coughing, chest or abdomen pain, weight loss and loss of appetite, among many others.

Usually it is the most common symptoms – breathing difficulties and shortness of breath – which prompt patients to consult with their doctor. It’s crucial to disclose any history of exposure to asbestos, even if it occurred decades before, as this information can aid doctors in their diagnosis. Such disclosure can also prevent uncomfortable and expensive tests as well as making treatment more effective.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

In their early stages, mesothelioma symptoms are vague and mild. They gradually become more severe as the illness progresses. Asbestos fibers can remain in the body for decades, slowly causing cellular damage that may result in mesothelioma cancer 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure took place. During the final stages of this long latency period, the undetected cancer may spread to other parts of the body, but the most common symptoms are directly related to local effects of the tumor.

Because pleural mesothelioma is the most prevalent form of the cancer, most information about mesothelioma symptoms refers to the pleural subtype. Although observations of the other forms of mesothelioma have been limited by the cancer’s infrequent occurrence, a unique set of symptoms has been established for each type of the disease.

To get an accurate diagnosis, patients are encouraged to arm themselves with information about symptoms, doctors and the disease of mesothelioma. For a list of the top mesothelioma specialists as well as a complete list of symptoms, fill out our form below for a complimentary informational packet. A packet will be sent to you overnight.

Asbestos and the Development of Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was incorporated into thousands of products throughout the majority of the 20th century. Common items that contained the hazardous substance included insulation, roofing materials, drywall, ceiling and flooring tiles, cements, valves, seals and other construction products. Asbestos was primarily used because it was cheap, fire-resistant and had insulating capabilities.

Mesothelioma may develop after someone has either inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. This most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and those in the area fail to wear protective equipment. Once the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos have entered the body, they typically attach to the lining of the lungs and become lodged. Overtime, these fibers create enough irritation and inflammation to cause tumors to develop. Unfortunately, these tumors do not cause symptoms until they have reached an advanced stage of development, leaving a person with limited treatment options and a poor mesothelioma prognosis.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can arise in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. Some cases have even been reported to develop in the lining of the testicles as well. The three major types of mesothelioma are called pleural mesothelioma (lung), pericardial mesothelioma (heart) and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen).

Combined, these cancers affect 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. Receiving a diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other, more common conditions and doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis. Another contributing factor that makes these cancers difficult to diagnose is the severe latency period of symptoms. From the time of someone’s initial exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, signs of development may take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise.

In an effort to help patients understand mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a complimentary packet that contains treatment options and other helpful resources tailored to your specific diagnosis. The packet also covers the nation’s top mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers, as well as financial assistance options to help cover medical costs. To receive your packet in the mail, please enter your information below.

Asbestos Hype

Asbestos is dangerous. However, it’s affects usually do not appear until years after prolonged exposure. The restrictive lung disease caused by asbestos exposure has no curative treatment. The lung tissue develops more and more scar tissue, until the lungs become completely ineffective. It is a painful, suffocating illness. Patients who develop asbestosis also have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Repeated exposure from a work environment causes the illness to develop slowly, over time. Most people do not develop symptoms until years after exposure.
So yes, it may seem “over-hyped” if you freak out from one asbestos exposure. But even a small amount of asbestos can cause permanent scarring of your lungs, you just don’t feel any affects. Better to be safe now than sorry in thirty years.