Asbestos Exposure Links to Mesothelioma and Possibly Breast Cancer

A naturally occurring mineral that has been used for thousands of years, asbestos is composed of pliable and durable fibers that exhibit heat and fire-resistant qualities. Asbestos is cheap and easy to mine from the earth and deposits of asbestos have been mined throughout the world in myriad countries. The United States is no exception and is home to some of the world’s largest naturally occurring asbestos deposits.

Playing a major role in a number of industries, asbestos was regularly used in trains, ships and shipyards, textiles, automotives and construction materials, to name a few. The toxic chemical was most commonly used for insulation purposes in residential and commercial buildings, boiler and engine rooms aboard ships and trains, and as a protective covering on pipes and plumbing. Additionally, asbestos was widely used in home construction materials such as floor and ceiling tiles, adhesives, cements, siding, roofing, pipeline wrap and shingles.

Asbestos, Mesothelioma and Breast Cancer

Since the body cannot easily dispose of asbestos fibers once inhaled or ingested, they tend to remain in the body and cause irreparable damage. If an individual experiences repeated exposure, the fibers can build up over time, often creating a fibrous scarring of the lungs. Exposure to this toxic mineral can lead to a range of diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma cancer.

Asbestosis is a chronic and progressive lung disorder that causes shortness of breath and culminates in respiratory failure or develops into cancer. Mesothelioma is the most common cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The cancer develops in the mesothelium, a protective membrane that lines body cavities, including the thoracic cavity (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) and the heart sac (pericardium). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of the three primary types. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually.

Though the causal relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has long been established, researchers are still investigating a potential connection between asbestos and breast cancer. One such study, titled “Prevalence of Asbestos Bodies in a Necropsy Series in East London,” sought to research the amount of asbestos bodies (fibers) present in exposed workers and document their disease manifestations.

Of the 178 women studied, the researchers noted an increased amount of asbestos bodies in women with breast cancer, suggesting increased amounts of asbestos in the body could be related to the development of breast cancer.

The only way to avoid the development of such diseases is to avoid exposure to asbestos at all costs. Knowing where asbestos exposure can occur and how to protect your self from the toxic fibers is essential in preventing asbestos-related disease.  If you suspect your home is contaminated with asbestos, you are advised to contact a licensed asbestos abatement contractor for a safe and detailed inspection.

Where to Spot and How to Avoid Asbestos

Knowing where to find and how to spot asbestos is essential in avoiding this toxic substance. Since most structures built before the 1980s contain asbestos, it is important to know the common places to find asbestos in order to spot and avoid exposure. Spotting asbestos products that are not clearly labeled is practically impossible with the human eye, so testing is the only way to know if a product contains asbestos. Make sure not to sample the product yourself, which comes with the risk of releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Rather, hire a professional to take a sample for testing. Some possible sources of asbestos in homes include the following:

· Tile and sheet vinyl flooring (adhesives applied in flooring also contained asbestos)

· Roofing materials, such as tiles, felt, and adhesives

· Textured plaster used in acoustical ceiling treatment (and decoratively along walls and ceilings)

· Sheet products: millboard, roll-board, and others

· Joint compounds and plaster used to patch holes and seams

· Insulation: including wall insulation, pipe covering, electrical tape and wadding, and in stoves and furnaces

For additional resources on asbestos, mesothelioma and other illnesses caused by asbestos exposure, please visit the Mesothelioma Center. We also thank http://thewinningwomannetwork.com for allowing us this opportunity to share this information on their site.