An Overview of Mesothelioma:
June 2nd, 2007 by admin
Minerals are an essential part of our lives. They are required for a healthy growth of the body. There are different sources of acquiring minerals from the earth. A complete, nutritious diet includes an adequate supply of minerals. Minerals are in an uncountable amount. Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals. They have been used in the olden times as a means of insulation. Their characteristics include very long and thin, invisible fibers. It also occurs in the environment. Asbestos fibers are so small you can’t see them. Disturbing asbestos can cause fibers to float in the air. When this happens, they are easy to inhale. You breathe out most fibers, but some become lodged in the lungs. Over time, they can build up in the lungs, causing scarring and inflammation. This can eventually affect breathing and lead to disease, such as
- Asbestosis, or scarring of the lungs that makes it hard to breathe
- Mesothelioma, a rare cancer that affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen.
Other asbestos-related diseases:
- asbestos warts – caused when the sharp fibers lodge in the skin and are overgrown causing benign callus-like growths.
- pleural plaques – discrete fibrous or partially calcified thickened area which can be seen on X-rays of individuals exposed to asbestos. They do not become malignant or cause other lung impairment.
- diffuse pleural thickening – similar to above and can sometimes be associated with asbestosis. Usually no symptoms shown but if extensive can cause lung impairment.
It can also be a cause of cancer associated with the lungs. Its does take a long period of time to develop in the body. The reason being; that the fibers of asbestos can take a little time to concentrate along the lungs. The fibers can be inhaled by anyone. It is normally very easily inhaled because when they break down they disperse in the air and even settle in the clothes of the workers. Family members can also inhale these fibers when they do the laundry or remove the dust from the clothes.
The asbestos have had multiple uses. There remains the historical use of this mineral and also the modern usage. Because of the increasing number of diseases caused because of this mineral it has been banned in a few countries. Although its essentiality and need for being mixed with the cement and other multiple uses like heat reduction etc, it is still used.
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