Italy’s Battle Against Mesothelioma: National Case Tracking
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Italy’s Battle Against Mesothelioma: National Case Tracking

ByHolly Zink

A study by Italian researchers shows how tracking mesothelioma cases at a national level can help to measure the impact of asbestos exposure. Unveiling the Toll of Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer, and it is also rare. The cancer grows in the lining of internal organs like the lungs. It is hard to diagnose and treat, and the outlook for patients is usually poor. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been found throughout the world. It used to be widely used in construction and manufacturing before its toxic effects were discovered. Many countries banned the use of asbestos, but other countries continue to use this dangerous material. How…

Asbestos Deaths in Italy Top 4,000 Per Year Decades After Ban
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Asbestos Deaths in Italy Top 4,000 Per Year Decades After Ban

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers in Italy say there were 4,400 asbestos deaths in the country between 2010 and 2016 – more than two decades after the country banned the substance.  Italy was one of the main European producers of asbestos until the 1992 ban. The new report shows the destructive legacy asbestos can have on a country. Most of the asbestos deaths were from lung cancer or malignant mesothelioma. Some people also died of asbestosis or ovarian cancer. The research team says the numbers “suggest the need for appropriate interventions” to protect people from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.  Mesothelioma is Not the Only Fatal Asbestos-Related Disease Asbestos is the primary cause of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is even sometimes referred to…

How Long Does Mesothelioma Risk Last After Asbestos Exposure?
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How Long Does Mesothelioma Risk Last After Asbestos Exposure?

ByAlex Strauss

If you experienced asbestos exposure more than 30 years ago and you have not developed mesothelioma, your risk for the disease may be starting to decline.  A new Italian study is the latest to suggest that mesothelioma risk may taper off over time. A group of occupational health experts conducted the study. Their goal was to predict mesothelioma trends in Italy until 2040.  The data shows that mesothelioma cases will probably peak this year. But they also show that most of those cases will happen in people with asbestos exposure in the last three decades.  Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Incidence Asbestos is the main cause of malignant mesothelioma. A small number of mesothelioma cases happen without any known asbestos exposure….

Early Mesothelioma Deaths a “Proxy” for Childhood Asbestos Exposure in Italy
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Early Mesothelioma Deaths a “Proxy” for Childhood Asbestos Exposure in Italy

ByAlex Strauss

A new study out of Italy is a sobering reminder of the devastating effects of early asbestos exposure.  Mesothelioma is rare in people under 50. But  the new study found about 35 Italians under 50 died of mesothelioma every year from 2003 to 2016. The highest number of deaths were among people from Northern industrialized parts of the country. These are the people most likely to experience environmental asbestos exposure as children.  The researchers say these early deaths indicate the toxicity of the environment in these regions – particularly to those who grew up there.  The Link Between Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer of internal membranes. It was almost unheard of before industrialization. Many…

Italian Case Illustrates Unusual Way of Tracking Asbestos Exposure
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Italian Case Illustrates Unusual Way of Tracking Asbestos Exposure

ByAlex Strauss

After a mysterious cluster of mesothelioma cases cropped up among Italian textile workers, researchers found an unusual way of tracking asbestos exposure. Asbestos is the main cause of malignant mesothelioma. Many mesothelioma patients came in contact with asbestos at work. But it is not always clear how it happened.   Mesothelioma legal cases often hinge on tracking asbestos exposure at a negligent company. But in the case of the Italian textile workers, the exposure was not obvious. The workers produced sewing threads. They did not work directly with asbestos. It was not until an abatement company started removing asbestos from the plant, that researchers got a clearer picture of why the workers got sick.  The Challenge of Tracking Asbestos Exposure Asbestos…

Research Shows Location Impacts Mesothelioma Therapy in Italy
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Research Shows Location Impacts Mesothelioma Therapy in Italy

ByAlex Strauss

Italian cancer researchers have released new data on how patient location impacts mesothelioma therapy in the country.  Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer. Most doctors see very few cases in the course of their careers. This lack of expertise may explain why the preferred treatments vary from one region to the next.  Italy’s Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare led the new research. They analyzed pleural mesothelioma outcomes across the country. The conclusion is that location impacts mesothelioma therapy in Italy because there is not enough sharing of information. Choosing a Mesothelioma Treatment Approach Pleural mesothelioma is challenging to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Even experienced mesothelioma doctors often struggle to know the best way to approach…

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…