Abestos Related Diseases
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by: Peter Wayne
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Word Count: 517
Asbestos derives from a Greek word which means “inextinguishable” and it was known by this particular group of ancient ancestors as the Miracle Mineral” because of its soft and workable properties in addition to its ability to withstand heat and pressure.
Although the roots of asbestos can be traced back to Ancient Greece, it was only in the late 19th century that builders and architects began using the material. It became very popular for a number of reasons – It was cheap, had a very high resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage and it was also a very sturdy replacement for concrete. These beneficial properties of asbestos were lent to other materials and it was often mixed with cement or woven into fabric. Brake shoes on motor cars have also been known to incorporate the material due to its high resistance to heat. It’s booming popularity with building manufacturers during the 1990’s has today had devastating effects on the health and well-being of many people from all walks of life. If inhaled, fibers from asbestos can cause mesothelioma (a form of cancer attacking the lining of the lungs) or asbestosis which is a chronic inflammatory condition also affecting the lungs.
There are different types of Asbestos which in most circumstances lend their names from the properties of the material (usually the colour). It has been suggested that blue asbestos is the most dangerous, however long term exposure to any form of asbestos fibers has been scientifically proven to be detrimental to health. A person’s risk of disease will increase by breathing in lots of asbestos fibers, or by breathing in not so much over a longer period of time. It is unlikely one will contract any of the asbestos related diseases following a one-off exposure to high levels of the troublesome fibers. Problems only usually occur after prolonged contact with the substance.
There are other asbestos related diseases linked with exposure to harmful asbestos fibers. These include asbestos warts, caused by the fibers become lodged in the skin causing rashes and calluses on the skin, pleural plaques, and diffuse pleural thickening which is similar to pleural plaques and is often associated with asbestosis. The last two conditions described here can potentially be very dangerous as there are quite often no direct visible symptoms until it becomes quite serious.
Today in Britain, the government are promoting strict controls on the handling of asbestos based on reports from modern history relating to a link between exposure to the material and deteriorating well-being. According to the office for national statistics, around 3500 people die every year from asbestos related lung cancer and the prediction is that numbers will continue to rise.
Despite the fact that people have always been aware of the health risks associated with asbestos – even the Romans and Greeks recognised that slaves wearing cotton with asbestos woven into the fabric would lead to work related diseases – it is only recently that legislation has been brought into protect unsuspecting victims from this deadly material.
About the Author
Peter Wayne knows that Personal injury specialists are the best people to help you through any asbestos related diseases as they will not just help financially compensate the time required for you to have off work, but if you choose the right legal representative, they will point you in the right direction for medical care.
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