Education Needed Regarding Mesothelioma

Article Added May 15th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

According to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the US Surgeon General needs to approve education Americans about the dangers of asbestos related diseases, including deadly mesothelioma.

As reported cases of asbestos related diseases increase, the ADAO has urged the Surgeon General to issue an immediate warning about the need to educate Americans on the dangers of asbestos exposure. Asbestos production has almost ceased in the US, but the material has not been banned, making the threat very real to American workers. Homes, schools and buildings put remodeling workers in danger, while insulation in parts puts the automotive world in the red. On top of this, those workers can inadvertently expose innocent bystanders to asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos fiber can lead to emphysema, asbestosis, lung cancer, and the “asbestos” cancer, mesothelioma. Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers are breathed into the lungs, which then adhere to the tissue in the lining. As the fibers dig further into the lining, the tissue is not able to retain oxygen and begins to die. The result is that years or decades after exposure, the victim slowly suffocates to death. Most asbestos related diseases are incurable, therefore making prevention the number one solution. A warning about the dangers from the Surgeon General may be a step in the right direction, or so the ADAO hopes.

Article Added May 15th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story