| Since the late 1800's Asbestos has been mined | | | | asbestos-related diseases. Family members and |
| and used commercially. The use of Asbestos | | | | others living with asbestos workers have an |
| dramatically increased during World War II and | | | | increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and |
| since the early 1940's millions of Americans have | | | | possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk |
| been exposed to asbestos dust working within | | | | may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust |
| industries where initally the risks were not known. | | | | brought home on the clothing and hair of |
| There has been widespread exposure to | | | | asbestos workers.To reduce the chance of |
| Asbestos by workers within shipyards, mines and | | | | exposing family members to asbestos fibers, |
| mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in | | | | asbestos workers are usually required to shower |
| the heating and construction industries, and other | | | | and change their clothing before leaving the |
| tradespeople and an increase risk of deveolping | | | | workplace.The combination of smoking and |
| mesothelioma has been the result. .Today, the U.S. | | | | asbestos exposure significantly increases a |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration | | | | person's risk of developing cancer of the air |
| (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of | | | | passageways in the lung. The Kent brand of |
| asbestos exposure in the workplace. By contrast, | | | | cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first |
| the British Government's Health and Safety | | | | few years of production in the 1950s and some |
| executive (HSE) states formally that any | | | | cases of mesothelioma have resulted. Smoking |
| threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very | | | | current cigarettes does not appear to increase |
| low level and it is widely agreed that if any such | | | | the risk of mesothelioma.There is no curative |
| threshold does exists at all, then it cannot | | | | treatment. Close monitoring (routine X-rays or |
| currently be quantified. For practical purposes, | | | | even pleural biopsy) for mesothelioma is |
| therefore, HSE does not assume that any such | | | | mandated. Oxygen therapy at home is often |
| threshold exists. People who work with asbestos | | | | necessary to relieve the shortness of breath. |
| wear personal protective equipment to lower their | | | | Supportive treatment of symptoms includes |
| risk of exposure.The risk of asbestos-related | | | | respiratory treatments to remove secretions |
| disease increases with heavier exposure to | | | | from the lungs by postural drainage, chest |
| asbestos and longer exposure time. However, | | | | percussion, and vibration. Aerosol medications to |
| some individuals with only brief exposures have | | | | thin secretions may be prescribedLooking for |
| developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not | | | | information about Mesothelioma? |
| all workers who are heavily exposed develop | | | | |