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History of Asbestos: From 300 BC To This Day

The written history of asbestos starts with Teofastro, a disciple of Aristotle, which described this material in his classic, "Of the stones," written about 300 B.C. Later, in the first century, the geographer Strabo localized the first deposit being mined to manufacture fireproof clothing on the island of Euboea. Dioscorides, a Greek physician contemporary of Strabo, mentions in his book "De Materia Medica" paintings and recyclable scarves that were given to the audience from the theater (this was because the asbestos scarves were easily cleaned and whitened with fire so it could bereuse in another function). It also indicates other use of asbestos in Cyprus. The author names the name of the mineral asbestos. Plutarch tells us of theperennial flames that lit the Acropolis sprouting of lamps with asbestos wicks soaked in oil. Another contemporary writer of the above, Pliny the Elder in his "Natural History" was the one who gave the name asbestinon, w...
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Risk Factors of Developing Asbestos Diseases

For the eye of the unsuspecting public, asbestos is a miracle material that protects their houses and other materials from easily contracting fire. But, behind these advantages to homeowners, the industrial workers suffer from health hazards that are oftentimes fatal. Asbestos was primarily used to fireproof houses; it was also popular as a roofing. However, during the recent years, many diseases have been related to it and it is apparent that many more will be discovered that can be directly rooted to asbestos. But asbestos , as is, does not really cause the diseases. Instead, the culprit is known to be the asbestos fiber that comes from the damaged asbestos materials. These accumulate through continuous dilapidation of asbestos-based products, say the roofing of your attic. Once there are conditions that led to the damaging of the asbestos , it is likely that the material will release asbestos fiber that can be sent to the air. The danger now comes when a person inhales the...
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Radiation Therapy Healing The Mesothelioma Patients

There are mainly three types of treatments for the Mesothelioma patients to lead a healthy life even with that deadly type of cancer inside the body. Among surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the last type of treatment has been regarded as the safest with the least probability of any other side effect. Radiation therapy was also among the earlier procedures of treating the Mesothelioma patients. As per the statistics given by the American Cancer Society , you can get a clear picture that over 50% of patients suffering from different types of Mesothelioma cancer have been prescribed with the radiation therapy. One of the valid reasons behind this is that the person can lead a normal lifestyle with this type of treatment but in case of aggressive surgery some other type of problem can be traced in the body at a later stage. Rays for relief What is radiation therapy and how is it conducted in the human body? Rays of high energy are bombarded on the cancerous cells to allow thos...
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The Danger of Asbestos Flooring

Asbestos flooring is popular to be installed at home. We can find asbestos in form of tiles, or vinyl. This material is popular since 1920s until now. It is plastic resin which is manufactured from chlorine and ethylene. This makes the product is flexible, and common to use for housing materials and building. Vinyl can be combined with asbestos, to add its insulating properties and strength. At a Glance You can find the combination of asbestos and vinyl in form of vinyl wallpaper, vinyl sheet flooring, and also vinyl asbestos tile or VAT. In general, asbestos is actually banned, since its carcinogenic substance which can trigger problem for lungs. Yet, the combination we find from asbestos and vinyl, it is found out that the toxicity is low. It is even used for wallpaper and flooring in schools, commercial buildings, and even houses. Vinyl itself is popular since 1920s since its durability, ease of installation, and also inexpensive price. It also comes in various textures,...
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Asbestos Health Risks And Litigation

Asbestos is a naturally-occuring fibrous mineral of metamorpic hydrous magnesium silicate. The term “metamorphic” is used to describe a process of extreme heat and pressure which creates specific secondary patterns of minerals with new chemical and/or physical properties. As the primary rock is heated and recooled, silicate crystals align in long rows of mineral fibers, which easily separate into tiny shards thinner than a human hair. Asbestos fibers are not a health risk as long as they are undisturbed. However, when asbestos is undergoes natural weathering, or is mined and processed, the microscopic particles waft into the air and cause disease if they are inhaled. Asbestosis occurs when an inhaled asbestos particle irritates the body’s natural defence mechanisms, causing inflammation and scarring which eventually restricts lung function. Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the membranes surrounding the heart, lungs and abdominal cavity. Asbestos can also cause cancer of the m...
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Asbestos Fibers: Types and Alternative

Asbestos fibers is popular for its strength, resistance to chemicals and hear, flexibility, and its low electrical conductivity. The compositions of this material are oxygen, silicon, hydrogen, and various metals. This material is divided into two groups, amphibole and serpentine. The physical characteristics of these two are different. Serpentine comes in tiered or layered form, while asbestos comes in chain-like structure. Once the material is put into a product, it needs examination and microscopic analysis to know whether or not asbestos are in a product. This fiber is hazardous for human health.  Types of Asbestos There are some common types of asbestos we can find today. We have Amosite which has brown color and straight fibers form. This asbestos contains magnesium and iron and are used in different types of insulation product. United States makes this material become the second most used asbestos. We also have Chrysotile which is the most dangerous form of asbestos we...
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Mesothelioma Stages

Treatment options are often determined by the stage of mesothelioma a patient is in. There are three staging systems currently in use for pleural mesothelioma and each one measures somewhat different variables; peritoneal mesothelioma is not staged. Staging is the term used to describe the extent of a patient's cancer, based on the primary tumor and its spread in the body. It can help the medical team plan treatment, estimate prognosis and identify clinical trials for which the patient may be eligible. Staging is based on a knowledge of how the cancer develops, from the primary tumor, to the invasion of nearby organs and tissues, to distant spread or metastasis. Staging systems have evolved over time, and they continue to change as scientists learn more about cancer. Some staging systems cover many different types of cancer, while others focus on more specific cancers. The TNM (primary tumor, regional lymph nodes, distant metastasis) is the most common staging system for mesothel...
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