The only proven cause of malignant mesothelioma is the exposure of the individual to one of the many forms of asbestos. Mesothelioma develops when the asbestos fibers enter the body, normally by inhalation or by ingestion. Once the fibers enter the body, they become lodged in the tissues that surround and protect the organs. Over …
Mesothelioma can develop in several places in the body, but it’s most often seen in the lungs. That’s what most people think of when they hear about mesothelioma – lung cancer. Asbestos fibers get into the lungs through inhalation, and they irritate the lining. Eventually, over the course of 20 to 50 years, the asbestos …
In its early stages of development, mesothelioma really has no symptoms. People don’t feel sick or have anything obvious going on that they would pick up on and be able to address. However, that doesn’t mean the disease isn’t developing. When the mesothelioma tumors get large enough, chest pain and shortness of breath will start …
The industrial revolution popularized asbestos as people sought ways to make buildings and products less susceptible to fire and electrical damage. The fire, chemical, and electrical resistant properties of asbestos had been known since the times of ancient Greece, but it wasn’t until the early 1900s that its use became widespread. Asbestos is a common, …
Exposure to workplace irritants can lead to a vast array of diseases. These diseases may last only as long as the exposure continues or may be chronic conditions that last a lifetime. Certain lung and respiratory illnesses that are caused by occupational exposure to chemicals, dangerous fibers or other substances can cause fatal diseases that …
Common Occupational Lung and Respiratory Diseases Defined Read More »
In the United States occupational lung disease is the number one cause of on-the-job illness. This disease tops the list both in frequency and severity yet is, in almost every case, preventable. Over 20 percent of men worldwide have been exposed to some type of dangerous occupational irritant that may cause cancer and 5 to …
Preventing occupational lung and respiratory diseases is the most significant way to reduce the number of deaths from these illnesses. The most effective way to prevent these diseases is to avoid inhaling the substances that cause them. Limiting or eliminating exposure to these irritants is the only way to decrease their effects on the body. …
Occupational diseases are those illnesses that occur due to exposure to irritants in the workplace. Occupational illnesses may occur instantaneously due to exposure to toxic chemicals or fumes or may take years to develop due to long-term exposure. Many individuals today are faced with respiratory disease such as adult asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) …
Example: the smokestack of a coal plant ejects coal smoke into the air. Water vapor droplets in the clouds can pick up these smoke particles and drop them later in the form of acid rain. How is particulate air pollution measured? Due to the different sizes, shapes and chemical compositions of these microscopic particulate air …
A recent report from researchers at the University of California at San Diego has revealed that the habit of smoking at least one pack (20 cigarettes) a day has severely declined over the last fifty years. Investigators observed that the rate of decline was particularly noteworthy in California, where lung cancer rates also fell in …