Occupational Asbestos Exposure: The Need for Standardized Assessment
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Occupational Asbestos Exposure: The Need for Standardized Assessment

ByAlex Strauss

A new report shows how important it is to have a standardized way to assess occupational asbestos exposure in people with mesothelioma.  Malignant mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Usually, that happens in the workplace. But sometimes, even the worker has no idea how or where he or she was exposed. This is especially true in industries not normally associated with occupational asbestos exposure.  The new Italian case study of a trucking worker who developed pleural mesothelioma illustrates the point.  Some Occupations Pose a Higher Mesothelioma Risk Than Others Before scientists discovered how dangerous it was, asbestos was a common additive to many products. Industries prized the fibrous mineral for its strength, heat and corrosion resistance, durability,…

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….

BAP1 Not the Only Gene to Raise Mesothelioma Risk
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BAP1 Not the Only Gene to Raise Mesothelioma Risk

ByAlex Strauss

A new study is further evidence that a mutation on the BAP1 gene is not the only genetic anomaly to raise mesothelioma risk. Scientists at Philadelphia’s Fox Chase Cancer Center along with a team of international researchers recently published a study of 13 malignant mesothelioma patients. All of these patients had close relatives who also had cancer. This suggested that something in their genetic makeup might raise mesothelioma risk.  Previous research suggests one gene that makes people more susceptible to mesothelioma is BAP1. People with a mutation on this gene are more likely to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis. They are also more susceptible to several other conditions.  But the people in the new study were chosen because none of them…

Atomic Military Veterans Faced Higher Risk From Asbestos Than Radiation
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Atomic Military Veterans Faced Higher Risk From Asbestos Than Radiation

ByAlex Strauss

A study published in a US medical journal shows atomic military veterans faced a higher risk from asbestos exposure during their service than they did from radiation.  The study published last summer focused on more than 100,000 veterans. These veterans participated in at least one of 230 above-ground nuclear weapons tests between 1945 and 1962. The tests took place at eight nuclear test sites.  Some soldiers participated in military maneuvers, observed nuclear weapons tests, or provided technical support. Others served on board ships or were stationed on islands during or after nuclear tests.  In spite of their proximity to radioactive weapons, atomic military veterans were more likely to die of an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma than a radiation-related illness. The…

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…

Can Yogurt and Fiber Reduce Mesothelioma Risk?
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Can Yogurt and Fiber Reduce Mesothelioma Risk?

ByAlex Strauss

The findings of a new lung cancer study suggest that eating yogurt and fiber might help reduce mesothelioma risk.  The study in JAMA Oncology involved more than 1.4 lung cancer patients from around the world.  Researchers assessed the results of 10 dietary studies between 2017 and 2019. They found a “synergistic association” between eating fiber and yogurt and a lower risk of lung cancer.  Pleural mesothelioma is a lung-related cancer with many of the same characteristics as lung cancer. It is possible that the same dietary habits might reduce mesothelioma risk, too.  The Yin and Yang of an Anti-Cancer Diet The lung cancer researchers did not choose to study yogurt and fiber randomly. Dietary fiber is the main source of…

Mesothelioma Among Construction Workers in Southern Italy
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Mesothelioma Among Construction Workers in Southern Italy

ByAlex Strauss

New research in Southern Italy highlights the global problem of mesothelioma among construction workers.  The research comes from occupational medicine experts at the University of Bari.  Scientists studied 178 cases of mesothelioma among construction workers in the Apulia region of Italy. The data shows that heavy asbestos exposure raised the odds of contracting mesothelioma by more than two-and-a-half times.  Asbestos and the Risk for Mesothelioma Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, in Italy and around the world. But for decades, almost no one knew that.  Tens of thousands of people worked with asbestos before scientists recognized the risk for mesothelioma among construction workers.  Asbestos was in dozens of construction products including cement, wall board, insulation, floor and ceiling tiles…

Risk for Mesothelioma Does Not Decline After Asbestos Exposure Stops
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Risk for Mesothelioma Does Not Decline After Asbestos Exposure Stops

ByAlex Strauss

A new report contains some disappointing news for former asbestos workers: The risk for mesothelioma does not go down when asbestos exposure stops. A team of US and Italian researchers reached that conclusion after combing the medical literature for studies on the risk for mesothelioma. Although the risk for several other cancers declines when the person is no longer in contact with the carcinogen, the study shows this does not apply to asbestos cancer. Asbestos Increases Mesothelioma Risk Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma. It is a naturally-occurring mineral that is resistant to corrosion, does not burn, and makes an excellent insulator. Malignant mesothelioma was virtually unheard of until people started mining and using asbestos in industry. Since then,…

Mesothelioma Patient Alert: Study Questions Safety of B12 Supplements
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Mesothelioma Patient Alert: Study Questions Safety of B12 Supplements

ByAlex Strauss

New research about the safety of Vitamin B12 supplements is raising red flags for mesothelioma patients and those at risk for mesothelioma. A major international study published in the International Journal of Cancer suggests that too much Vitamin B12 in the body may be a cause of lung cancer. The study included researchers from top institutions like Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, the University of Pittsburgh, the American Cancer Society, and the National Cancer Institute. Pleural Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Pleural mesothelioma has a lot in common with lung cancer. It develops in the cells of the membrane around the lungs. As mesothelioma spreads, the membrane becomes less pliable, making it hard for the lungs to expand normally….

Asbestos in Mesothelioma Development: No Amount is Safe
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Asbestos in Mesothelioma Development: No Amount is Safe

ByAlex Strauss

A new study contains some sobering news about the role of asbestos in mesothelioma development. Public health officials in Italy analyzed the medical records of people who died of pleural mesothelioma in the Broni, Italy area. Broni was the site of an asbestos cement plant from 1932 until 1993. They discovered that even some people who did not work with asbestos had a high risk of dying from this rare cancer. In fact, their risk for mesothelioma was higher even though their asbestos exposure was smaller. It suggests that no amount of asbestos exposure is “safe” — especially for people who are extra sensitive because of their genetics. Small Amounts of Asbestos in Mesothelioma Development Scientists began to suspect the…