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A background discussion of the disease.
Detailed descriptions of the three types of mesothelioma.
The most common risk factors & diagnosis.
Several treatment options and clinical trials are presented.
Legal implications associated with mesothelioma.
A causal connection between asbestos and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is the common name for fibrous silicate minerals which are resistant to fire and acid. The most common commercial asbestos is chrysotile asbestos. Asbestos was found in a variety of applications including, insulation, asbestos-cement products, construction supplies, brake linings, and for filtering chemicals.
The most prolific asbestos producing country is Canada. Other asbestos producing countries include Russia, Zimbabwe, the Republic of South Africa, Cyprus, and the United States.
During World War II, hundreds of thousands of civilian and military workers, through their occupations, were exposed to asbestos. In the 1960s, asbestos was identified as a potent carcinogen and serious health hazard. Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers has been established as the cause of asbestosis (thickening and scarring of lung tissue) and as a cause of mesothelioma as well as of cancers of the lung, intestines, and liver.
Production of asbestos slowed dramatically in the 1970s as the health risks of asbestos became known. In 1972, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began regulating asbestos and strengthening work safety standards. Large class action asbestos lawsuits were filed and won against asbestos companies, which had probable prior knowledge of the dangers involved. In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency imposed a ban on 94% of U.S. asbestos production and imports, to be phased in over a seven year period. Most current asbestos exposure comes from asbestos in older buildings and products such as automobile brakes. Despite these changes, asbestos continues to be used in the manufacture of some fire safety products.
The clinical latency period between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma development is 35-40 years, and as a result, the number of mesothelioma patients has continued to rise despite decreased asbestos production.
