Asbestos Affects Immunity, New Report Finds
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Asbestos Affects Immunity, New Report Finds

ByAlex Strauss

A new report from Japanese doctors shows that asbestos affects immunity. It may help explain why exposure to asbestos can trigger mesothelioma. Asbestos is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma worldwide. But doctors still do not know for sure how this fibrous mineral causes cancer.  Scientists know that inflammation and irritation have something to do with mesothelioma development. But they still do not know much about how asbestos affects immunity. Asbestos and Mesothelioma Development Asbestos is a silicate mineral that lies deep in the ground. For decades, people mined asbestos for use in various industries. Nearly every building in the US built before the mid-1980s contains some asbestos. But asbestos is also a carcinogen. Even small amounts of asbestos exposure…

Asbestos Cement Factory Still Impacting Lives in Italy
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Asbestos Cement Factory Still Impacting Lives in Italy

ByAlex Strauss

Residents who worked in or lived near an asbestos cement factory in Italy are still suffering the effects of toxic pollution decades later.  Separate studies in two environmental health journals this month highlight the ongoing problem. Both show there are more mesothelioma cases in these regions than in the rest of Italy. This is true even though Italy banned asbestos 30 years ago. One study concentrates on people who worked in an asbestos cement factory. The other focuses on mesothelioma patients whose only exposure was through air pollution near a factory  The Deadly Legacy of Asbestos in Broni The Fibronit asbestos cement company operated plants in Bari and Broni, Italy.  Broni is a town of about 9.000 people. The asbestos…

The High Cost of Mesothelioma in Turkey
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The High Cost of Mesothelioma in Turkey

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers in Turkey have released a sobering report on the real cost of mesothelioma in their country.  The article appears in the latest issue of Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health. It details the lives lost to asbestos cancer. It also talks about loss of productivity as a cost of mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma is a rare but virulent cancer that is resistant to most kinds of treatment. Turkey is a hotbed for mesothelioma because of the high levels of cancer-causing minerals in the soil. Some Turkish people also seem to have a higher genetic susceptibility to mesothelioma. This cancer is so common in some parts of Turkey that it is a popular place for mesothelioma research.   Why the Cost of Mesothelioma…

Can These Compounds Protect Against the Toxic Effects of Asbestos?
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Can These Compounds Protect Against the Toxic Effects of Asbestos?

ByAlex Strauss

A recent study out of Australia suggests that compounds called zeolites might offer protection against the toxic effects of asbestos. Asbestos is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer for which there is no cure. There is no way to remove asbestos from the body after a person has been exposed. But the new study suggests that zeolites might counteract some of the toxic effects of asbestos.  If the impact can be validated in humans, it could one day change the outcomes for thousands of people at risk for mesothelioma.  What Are the Toxic Effects of Asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral made up of long microscopic fibers. The size and shape of these…

Familial and Environmental Asbestos Exposure Raise Mesothelioma Risk in Women
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Familial and Environmental Asbestos Exposure Raise Mesothelioma Risk in Women

ByAlex Strauss

Italian researchers say women who live around an asbestos plant or with one of its workers may be at special risk for mesothelioma from the combination of familial and environmental asbestos exposure.  The research appears in a new issue of the Annals of Work Exposures and Health.  Scientists have long known about the link between asbestos on worker’s clothes and mesothelioma among the women who wash those clothes.  But the new report shows that some of these women face an even greater cumulative risk because of environmental asbestos exposure. Bringing the Mesothelioma Risk Home Traditionally, most jobs with the potential for asbestos exposure have been in male-dominated industries. These include industries like construction, shipbuilding, plumbing, electrical work, and asbestos mining…

Mesothelioma and Tile Production Linked by New Case Studies
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Mesothelioma and Tile Production Linked by New Case Studies

ByAlex Strauss

Two newly published case studies have drawn a link between malignant mesothelioma and tile production.  The authors of the new report analyzed the cases of two people who contracted mesothelioma after working for a tile manufacturer.  Both people were exposed to talc in their work. This is likely where they encountered the asbestos that may have triggered mesothelioma. Understanding the Different Types of Tile Malignant mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Before the 1990s, many homes and businesses were built with asphalt or vinyl ‘tiles’ made with asbestos. These types of tiles are still in many older buildings. Disturbing or removing them can pose a risk for mesothelioma.  But the current report focuses on ceramic tile workers. Mesothelioma and…

Mesothelioma in Seafarers: Cancer Risk at Sea
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Mesothelioma in Seafarers: Cancer Risk at Sea

ByAlex Strauss

New research has revealed a higher risk for mesothelioma in seafarers and fisherman in Nordic countries. A seafarer is someone who makes their living at sea. The study conducted by the Danish Cancer Society found an elevated risk in most types of cancer among Nordic seafarers. Mesothelioma was one of just three cancers whose cause was not difficult to guess. The research included tens of thousands of seamen and fisherman and spanned more than 40 years. The authors say malignant mesothelioma in seafarers is the result of on-the-job asbestos exposure. Asbestos at Sea Asbestos is a toxic mineral. It causes malignant mesothelioma and several other types of cancer. Before scientists made the connection between asbestos and cancer, it was a…

Asbestos and Lung Cancer: Study Highlights the Link
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Asbestos and Lung Cancer: Study Highlights the Link

ByAlex Strauss

A new report on asbestos and lung cancer says asbestos could be to blame for the cancer, even if the patient is a heavy smoker.  In smokers, lung cancer is usually attributed to tobacco use. But cancer researchers in Australia and Finland say that is not always right, especially if the patient has been exposed to asbestos. They propose new criteria for establishing the cause of lung cancer in asbestos-exposed people. The criteria would apply to both smokers and non-smokers. Mesothelioma is Not the Only Cancer Linked to Exposure Malignant mesothelioma is the cancer most often associated with asbestos exposure.  Mesothelioma is a rare but fast-growing and treatment-resistant cancer. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Smoking increases…

US Mesothelioma Cases from Asbestos Likely Underreported
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US Mesothelioma Cases from Asbestos Likely Underreported

ByAlex Strauss

New research shows that the number of US mesothelioma cases has not changed much in the last 50 years. It is likely that even more of those cases are related to asbestos exposure than current reports indicate.  Epidemiologists had predicted that the number of mesothelioma cases would decline after the government put asbestos regulations in place in the 1970s. But that has not happened. US mesothelioma cases have stayed steady at about 0.3 percent of all cancers.  At the same time, doctors do not always make the connection between the symptoms of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, especially among women. Some patients may not even realize they were ever exposed.  As a result, some experts say the number of cases blamed…

Mesothelioma Linked to Shipbuilding Finally Falling in the UK
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Mesothelioma Linked to Shipbuilding Finally Falling in the UK

ByAlex Strauss

After decades of higher-than-normal rates of mesothelioma near dockyards, cases of mesothelioma linked to shipbuilding appear to be falling in the UK. The UK has one of the highest per capita rates of malignant mesothelioma in the world. A big part of that comes from the shipbuilding industry where asbestos was used extensively. Now, a new report suggests the scourge of mesothelioma linked to shipbuilding is finally beginning to taper off, even though deaths from mesothelioma have not.  Why is Mesothelioma Linked to Shipbuilding? Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that is strong and impervious to heat and corrosion. That made it a good insulator and a choice building material for many decades. Unfortunately, asbestos is also highly toxic.  Before scientists…