Asbestos exposure can cause people to develop mesothelioma.  Asbestos fibers are known carcinogens and become lodged various places throughout the body.  The most common place for these fibers to lodge is within the mesothelial layer of the lungs.  This will cause pleural mesothelioma which is the most common form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. (more…)

There are many asbestos jobs where people are exposed to this known carcinogen.  In the 1970s, governmental asbestos regulations were put in place to reduce the amount of asbestos that people are allowed to be exposed to in the workplace.  Now the chances of becoming exposed to cancer-causing levels of asbestos are extremely low. (more…)

Cancer from asbestos is called mesothelioma. This is a rare but aggressive cancer that affects the mesothelial cells which line the lungs, abdomen, and heart. Most everyone has become exposed to asbestos at one point or another since asbestos is in the air, water, and soil. The people at the highest risk for developing cancer from asbestos include people who work with asbestos, family members of people who work with asbestos, and people living nearby asbestos active asbestos mining sites. (more…)

People at risk for developing asbestos diseases are ones who have been exposed to the mineral for extended periods of time or to who have been exposed to large doses of the mineral. The size, shape, and chemical makeup of the asbestos fiber also plays a role in the chances of developing asbestos diseases. (more…)

To answer the question of what does asbestos look like, you must first understand what it is. Asbestos is simply a mineral mined from the dirt or mountains - so in that respect, it simply looks like dirt. These tiny fibers measure approximately 3.0-20.0 µm (micrometer) in length and can be as thin as 0.01 µm. A human hair has an approximate size anywhere from 17 to 181 µm in width. Asbestos is easiest to observe with the assistance of a microscope. (more…)

In the United States and industrialized Western civilizations, asbestos has been used  in all sorts of building materials, but some industrial fields rise to the top of the list.  Workers in the following industries are found to be more vulnerable than others to asbestos cancer:  construction, auto mechanics, electricians, plumbers, industrial workers, and insulation specialists. (more…)

Asbestos cancer is also known as mesothelioma.  It is a form of cancer that primarily affects the lungs but can also attack the heart and abdomen. Asbestos cancer disease is caused by prolonged exposure to the micro-fibers which make up asbestos minerals.  The latency period for asbestos cancer can take decades to develop and become detected. (more…)