Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is known for its durability and fire-resistant properties. The substance has been used in a wide variety of building materials, including insulation products, siding, cements, flooring, and roofing, to name a few.

When asbestos-containing materials become damaged or disturbed, toxic asbestos fibers can be released into the air. If these microscopic fibers are inhaled or ingested, there are several different kinds of diseases that can develop. These diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, which all have a latency period ranging from 10 to 50 years.

This latency period can have a significant impact on patients diagnosed with asbestos cancer. For example, when mesothelioma symptoms and other signs of disease take several decades to appear, the disease is usually already in its latest stages of development. As a result, many patients only have the option of palliative mesothelioma treatment options rather than curative.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The disease occurs when the fibers of asbestos become lodged in the mesothelial lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).

In most instances, this disease takes anywhere between 20 and 50 years to develop. In addition to having difficulty with breathing and swallowing, extreme weight loss is also a side effect of malignant mesothelioma cancer.

Another form of asbestos cancer is asbestosis, which also causes intense scarring of the lungs. This disease typically develops after someone has experienced prolonged exposure to asbestos. The latency period with this disease is usually 10 to 30 years, and symptoms include breathing difficulties and a decrease in the elasticity of the lungs.

Besides mesothelioma and asbestosis, lung cancer is another disease that can develop from exposure to asbestos. However, this disease can also be enhanced by cigarette smoking and other agents. Pleural plaques are indicators or asbestos exposure as well, but these are not fatal. Instead, they are usually taken as early signs of development for other diseases.

Prognosis for these illnesses is commonly poor because patients do not have the availability of curable treatment options. For mesothelioma, the average prognosis for a patient is six months to two years. For asbestosis or lung cancer, the prognosis is usually longer, but the symptoms are much more painful. Hence the reason why more research is needed for finding a cure for these diseases.

A push for Asbestos to be added to an international black list of dangerous materials took a step back this week as Canada will continue to export the highly controversial product.

During a recent international meeting, politicians did not achieve their desired goal of banning the hazardous building material. Known to cause deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, countries that have imported and exported the substance in previous years blocked the action.

A naturally occurring mineral, asbestos was used prominently as a form of insulation for homes and buildings throughout the twentieth century. Many organizations are angered at the meetings result.

Diplomats from all over the world congregated in Rome to discuss blacklisting the mineral. Although most types of asbestos are now banned, the material is still being used in building products. Banning any substance requires any government who signed off on the original bill to agree to the new petition.

Canadian Parliament member and supporter of the ban, Pat Martin vehemently stated: “Canada’s defense of asbestos has nothing to do with reason, logic or economics. It’s all about domestic politics.”

Previous meetings took place in 1998 in Rotterdam, Holland when a document was signed that stated that any exporters of dangerous materials need prior informed consent from their designated importer. This was created so countries that import the substance are aware of the risks involved.

The French speaking Canadian province, Quebec, is the main producer of asbestos in the country and according to Martin, will counter any attempts at blacklisting the substance. Comparing asbestos to the tobacco industry, Martin compared the two’s striking similarities due the false research, lobbying and propaganda that are normally involved.

Attacking a layer of tissue that covers a large area of your body’s internal organs, mesothelioma is a form of asbestos cancer. Research has indicated it can take anywhere from twenty to fifty years for these lung cancers to develop. With limited mesothelioma treatment and poor patient prognosis, those advocating for mesothelioma victims rights will have to wait longer for action.

With the next convention not scheduled until 2011, supporters of the ban will have to wait a few years for the initiative to be up for national debate once again:

“We have allowed commercial interests to take primacy over scientific opinion and that could spell the end of the convention,” Martin said.

The naturally occurring mineral asbestos was widely used in a variety of building components throughout much of the twentieth century. In fact, it was fitted in nearly every home built before 1978. Even after this date, asbestos was still used in construction, but in smaller quantities.

The general consensus is asbestos does not cause health problems unless its fibers are released into the air, so many homes and buildings built before the 1980s still contain asbestos. However, people should still be wary of diseases such as mesothelioma because aging asbestos-containing materials can easily release asbestos fibers into the air.

Asbestos exposure occurs when these fibers are either inhaled or ingested into the body. If this happens, the fibers typically lodge themselves in the lining of the lungs to cause pleural mesothelioma. In addition to mesothelioma, other types of asbestos cancer include lung cancer and asbestosis.

Throughout its use in construction and many other materials, there were several different forms of asbestos that were used for commercial purposes. One form is chrysotile (white asbestos), which was mined from serpentine rock.

Chrysotile is perhaps the most flexible and commonly used type of asbestos. It is considered dangerous, but not as dangerous as other kinds of asbestos. Scientists say the fibers that make up chrysotile are somewhat curly and do not remain in the lungs for long periods of time like other straight, needle-like fibers.

A second popular form of asbestos is amosite (brown asbestos), which was mined from amphibole rock in South Africa. This type of asbestos is generally known as the second most dangerous kind of asbestos.

Another, yet more hazardous form of asbestos is crocidolite (blue asbestos), which was primarily mined in both South Africa and Australia. Crocidolite fibers are straight and needle-like, making it possible for them to become lodged in the lining of the lungs for long periods of time.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, all three of these forms of asbestos are classified as human carcinogens.

Other regulated asbestos minerals such as tremolite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, and anthophyllite asbestos are less commonly used industrially, but can still be found in a variety of construction and insulation materials. In addition, many of these types of asbestos have been reported to exist in a few consumer products.

With the rate of victims who fall prey to asbestos exposure growing at an alarming rate, UK public giant, Health and Safety Executive is embarking on an initiative to educate the public on the dangers of the harmful substance.

Jewson Construction Inc. and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have agreed to come together to raise awareness regarding the harmful consequences of exposure to the corrosive building material. This national watchdog is responsible for the regulation, encouragement and enforcement of safety and research in the United Kingdom, Scotland and Wales. In a recent study performed by the aforementioned group, twenty five percent of the four thousands asbestos related deaths every year come from tradesman, construction workers and women.

Used as a form of insulation for pipes and attics throughout the twentieth century, asbestos is a mineral found in the environment. Although a naturally occurring substance, this mineral can be extremely toxic. The inhalation of its toxic fibers can produce serious illnesses, such as; mesothelioma, asbestosis and other forms of lung cancer.

Currently in the midst of an epidemic, they are calling their campaign: “Asbestos: The Hidden Killer.” Health and Safety Executives hope this initiative will spread the message about safe practice in dealing with asbestos and even help put a ban on the substance.

“Asbestos represents a danger to those in construction and building industries. It is crucial for those who are involved within it are made aware of the associated dangers.” Health and Safety director, Kevin Crawley stated.

As part of their initiative, HSE will also be targeting children. Claiming that asbestos is still present in half a million buildings in the UK, Crawley maintains the problem is still persistent and can cause early and painful deaths.

The British Lung Foundation recently released a statement expressing their deep concern for the next generation of people dealing with asbestos exposure. “Sadly, for many who have been exposed to asbestos dust it’s too late, asbestos-related diseases have a long latency.”

In mesothelioma victims, the disease develops in the mesothelium, a protective lining which covers a majority of the body’s organs. Cells can then multiply and the disease can progress into malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms can go un-noticed for decades prior to diagnosis. In many cases, treatment is limited and physician prognosis is poor.

After decades of mis-information and repression of the truth, workers all over the world are now receiving the proper indications and information towards the risks they face. This type of effort from corporate entities is vital in the education and awareness needed for prevention of asbestos related illnesses.

In an effort to survive for himself, his children, and his wife, Stephen Bolon has fought mesothelioma cancer for the last two years even with all odds against him.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. Exposure most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials become damaged or disturbed and the small, toxic fibers of asbestos break off and are inhaled or ingested.

When this happens, the fibers typically lodge themselves in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, causing pleural mesothelioma. However, other areas that are susceptible to contract the disease include the lining of the heart and abdomen.

Unfortunately with mesothelioma, the majority of patients are diagnosed when the disease has already reached an advanced stage of development. This often presents many challenges for doctors trying to treat and remove the cancer because treatment options are very limited with.

Though patients are usually relieved after receiving mesothelioma treatment, many of them are also saddened because they know the therapy they received is more palliative than it is curative. However, Bolon has good reason to be happy, as he may be the first person in Australia to be cured of malignant mesothelioma.

According to Deborah Yates, who is a respiratory physician at Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital, mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, and once it’s discovered, it’s usually too late for meaningful treatment. But with the latest breakthrough in treatment, Bolon, at the age of 54, has so far defeated the cancer.

A biopsy originally reported cancer wasn’t present in his lungs at all, but a soluble mesothelin-related peptide that measured raised levels in his body told doctors otherwise.

Bolon immediately entered the hospital for surgery to remove his right lung, pleura, part of his pericardium, and part of his diaphragm. After radiotherapy and a waiting period of two years, Bolon is still healthy and cancer free.

Dr. Yates says, “We are very cautiously excited. We see so many people dying from mesothelioma and it would be wonderful if this works, it really would.”

Australia is currently at the forefront of research into mesothelioma because the country has the highest rates of asbestos-related disease in the world.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that most commonly develops in the lining of the lungs (pleura). However, other areas of the body that have also been known to contract the disease include the lining of the heart (pericardium) and abdomen (peritoneum).

Due to the latency period that is associated with the disease, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed during the advanced stages of development. As a result, mesothelioma treatment options are often limited because the disease is typically unresponsive to surgical intervention and radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy and other alternative therapies such as gene therapy, immunotherapy, and photodynamic therapy are the main therapeutic options for mesothelioma patients. Unfortunately though, many of the treatments that doctors recommend are palliative rather that curative since the disease is usually diagnosed in a late stage of development.

A new study, titled Molecular Targets and Targeted Therapies for Malignant Mesothelioma, shows the hope and continued need for mesothelioma research. Even with the benefits and knowledge obtained from the study, the prognosis for malignant mesothelioma patients remains poor. In fact, the median survival rate is still less than two years, which is why more active treatments are urgently needed.

Nonetheless, the study did find encouragement while evaluating inhibitors of growth factor receptors as a new potential therapeutic option for mesothelioma patients. In addition, the inhibitors targeting vascular endothelial growth factors were of particular interest because of their involvement in mesothelioma cell growth.

According to C. Palumbo of Tor Vergata Univeristy and the Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences in Rome, Italy, “A recombinant immunotoxin targeted to the membrane antigen mesothelin is an additional agent whose activity is being evaluated in mesothelioma patients.”

C. Palumbo, who conducted the study, believes much more can be done concerning the research of growth factor receptors and the design of an effective mesothelioma treatment. He urges researchers to continue seeking other therapeutic options and interventions against mesothelioma.

While the federal government continues with its stand still policy in regards to the banning of asbestos, home and business owners are taking steps to remove the harmful material from public use.

When remodeling or purchasing a new home, there are many things to consider. Commonly used to insulate boilers and pipes, most homes built prior to 1980 could harvest asbestos or other environmental defected insulation materials.

Improper insulation was used in millions of homes throughout the twentieth century. Deteriorated asbestos can cause a slew of health problems, such as mesothelioma and malignant mesothelioma. These diseases affect thousands every year and the prognosis for these forms of asbestos cancer is almost always poor.

Environmental efficiency is on the rise because of technology and green sustainable methods progressing rapidly.  Not only will these methods produce a healthier lifestyle, it will save you money.

Concluding that cooling and heating counts for up to fifty to seventy percent of energy used in the average American home, The Department of Energy recommends sustainable insulation options as alternatives, such as: cellulose, which is a popular green insulation material and treated to reduce levels of mold. Cotton fiber is made from recycled batted material and treated to be fireproof. A water based spray polyurethane foam, Lcynene features no toxic components. In addition, most people are unaware to the fact that these eco-friendly products can cut energy costs per household by 35 % per year.

Due to these recycled materials, waste is decreasing in crowded landfills. Currently, many cities in the U.S. have created lumberyards which re-store recycled building materials that are authentically strong and inexpensive.

“It’s a very dynamic time. In 10 years, there’s not going to be such a thing as green building, just building,” said Sarah Beatty, founder of Green Depot, a New York based company that sells green building products.

With environmental consciousness reaching all time highs, homeowners who are searching for these eco-friendly ideas won’t have to drive too far to purchase. Retailers and manufacturers all over the U.S. are also looking to cash in on the green movement and are lining up brand new products. Experts also suggest that the constant demand is helping keep costs at an affordable rate.

With the new Presidential administration just months away from taking office, many citizens are predicting a much more favorable government reaction to asbestos banning and the green movement.

The Oneida County Office Building in Utica, New York has recently tested negative for airborne asbestos. Apparently though, that isn’t good enough for the union, which represents county employees. United Public Service Employees Union Spokesperson Linda Kirnan says the organization plans to have their own round of tests performed on the building as well.

The asbestos problems were found on November 11 during routine maintenance processes. While tests were being performed, the building was completely evacuated to ensure the safety of all workers in the building.

The entire building was tested for airborne asbestos the day after the discovery was made. All tests came back negative, and county employees have been allowed to return to work without the fear of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases later in life.

The county is now planning to spend an estimated $15.4 million in addition to the $5.5 million already spent to completely remove all asbestos-containing materials from the building. Abatement on the building has been ongoing since the late 1990s, with seven of the building’s ten floors still requiring abatement.

According to County Executive Anthony Picente, the asbestos scare this week proves that the project is well worth the money it will cost.

County Legislator Frank Tallarino, a licensed asbestos contractor, is confident that the test results were accurate and that the building is safe to work in.

For the United Public Service Employees Union, however, this isn’t enough. Spokesperson Linda Kirnan says, “As a result of the closing [of the office building], we received numerous complaints and concerns [about the asbestos].”

Many of the employees in the building are very familiar with the types of asbestos cancer that can develop as a result of asbestos exposure. They realize the importance of such testing and would hate to experience mesothelioma symptoms later in life when they could have been avoided.

According to Kirnan, the results of the county-funded tests aren’t being disputed, but she believes union members would feel more comfortable about working in the building if the union funded a second set of tests.

Kirnan says the union-funded tests have already been conducted on five floors of the building and results are expected within a week.

Asbestos was discovered last month at a public area in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, which prompted concerns that there may be exposure risks for locals. Now, however, those fears have been allayed, as tests have come back negative indicating there is no significant hazard. 

The problems began when chunks of asbestos were found lying on the ground at a newly-finished recreation field in Lyndhurst. An investigation was then carried out to determine just how much asbestos might be present in the soil of the recreation area.

Mayor Richard DiLascio said the asbestos was found near the property line of the recreation field, adjacent to an old railroad track.

Officials believe that it’s likely the asbestos came from the railroad and was exposed during the installation of a boundary fence around the recreation area.

Exposure to asbestos is dangerous because the substance is a known human carcinogen and it has been linked to cause a range of serious diseases, including mesothelioma. Other diseases that can develop from exposure to asbestos include lung cancer and asbestosis.

Malignant mesothelioma can be especially harmful due to the long latency period of the disease. In most cases, the disease takes anywhere between 20 and 50 years to develop. This is largely because mesothelioma symptoms don’t even occur until the disease has reached an advanced stage of development.

Luckily for the town, the tests on asbestos have come back negative. The environmental survey carried out on the recreation field has shown there is no dangerous accumulation of asbestos anywhere on the site.

Mayor DiLascio said, “What we found was a sandwich bag full of asbestos in an area probably 100 feet long and five feet wide. We called in the DEP and submitted a plan on how to deal with it. The fields were checked and the fields are clean.”

The asbestos was found at a depth of between 18 and 26 inches, and testing involved a process called soil boring.

With the tests completed, the loose asbestos has now been removed. The area where the asbestos was found has been capped with fresh soil, and the recreation area is now safe for public use.

State of Vermont officials have released a new statement about the urgent need for investigating the impact of an abandoned asbestos mine in Colchester. The mine, located near the towns of Eden and Lowell, has been tagged with a health warning due to asbestos risks.

Scientists studied medical records and death certificates from residents within ten miles of the abandoned asbestos mine and found a significant increase in the risk of asbestos-related cancer such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

The latter of these diseases most commonly develops in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, known as pleural mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma can also occur in the lining of the heart and abdomen.

People who live close to the mine have as much as a twelve-fold increase in the likelihood they will pass away from asbestosis, lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma as compared to people who live further away.

The state has also been investigating the possibility that asbestos tailings from the mine have been used by locals or businesses for purposes such as fill on driveways, roads, gardens, or for any other uses.

Human Services Secretary Cynthia D. LaWare and Natural Resources Secretary George R. Crombie say the state of Vermont is investigating all possible resolutions for the problem and is working closely with the federal Environmental Protection agency and the United States Department of Justice.

The EPA is beginning to evaluate the abandoned mine to determine whether it is eligible for a spot on the Superfund list. That move would make the site eligible for federal funding to clean up the site and remove the dangerous asbestos. The agency has already spent $2 million on a smaller scale cleanup effort at the site.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice filed pleadings this week in a New Jersey federal district court. The department is seeking an injunction against the former owner of the abandoned mine, G-1 Holdings. In addition, the department seeks an additional investigation on the potential impact the mine might have on people who live near the mine.

During the ongoing investigation, the Vermont Department of Health stresses that people should stay away from the mine to minimize the risk of asbestos exposure.