Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos
Pleural mesothelioma happens when the lung's lining, chest wall and belly (peritoneum) gets affected. Around 90% of mesotheliomas develop in this area.
Doctors can detect fluid buildup and symptoms of mesothelioma through blood tests, X-rays, and CT scans. A tissue biopsy is needed to confirm mesothelioma. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Asbestos
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is made up of bundles and bundles of strong microscopic fibers. It was used in the production of a variety industrial and construction products from the 1930s to the 1980s. It is strong, fire-resistant, and strong. Many people who worked in the shipbuilding industry, construction and asbestos mining as well as other related fields were exposed to asbestos during this period. The exposure to asbestos was usually unavoidable and occurred without knowledge of the potential dangers.
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma if asbestos fibers are breathed in. The asbestos fibers can enter the lungs and travel to the lining (pleura) of the chest cavity. The asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the tissues of the pleura, causing scar tissue to form. Over time the scar tissue can transform into malignant mesothelioma tumors.
If asbestos fibers are swallowed they can be absorbed into the stomach and the intestine. The asbestos fibers may irritate the stomach's linings or the intestines. This can lead to mesothelioma in the peritoneum.
Mesothelioma is more common in males than females, and it is usually diagnosed in people who are 65 years of age or older. This is likely because men were more likely to be employed in occupations that involved asbestos, and also to be exposed asbestos for longer durations. Mesothelioma is uncommon in children but can develop.
Smoking and family history are also factors that increase your risk of developing mesothelioma. Family members of someone who has mesothelioma are at a higher risk chance of developing the disease due to the fact that they may have been exposed to asbestos through secondary exposure. The symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades to appear after the initial exposure to asbestos.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can vary depending on its type. Most people with pleural cancer suffer from chest pain and shortness of breathe. Other people have difficulty breathing and feel pain in their abdomen or throat. Asbestos can be found in a variety of types, so you should consult a specialist to diagnose the appropriate mesothelioma type. They can suggest the most appropriate treatment for each patient. The best treatment is vital to improve the quality of life of patients as well as their chances of surviving.
Silica
Silica can be found in rocks, soil concrete, sand, and sand. Silica dust that is in the air poses a risk for workers who use grinders, saws, or drills to cut, grind, or dig into these materials. This dust can damage the lungs and cause illness. Silica can also increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases.
The crystallized silica is known as a carcinogen, and has been associated with a variety of autoimmune disorders. Silica is a respiratory hazard due to its abrasive nature that can tear and scrape the nasal lining and respiratory passageways. It could eventually result in silicosis which is which is a chronic fibrosing disorder of the lungs which can result in scarring that limits the ability of the lungs to draw in oxygen. Silicosis may cause breathing problems, fatigue and may make a person more susceptible to infectious diseases of the lungs, such as tuberculosis.
Studies in animal models suggest that exposure to silica triggers changes in the tumor's immune system. This occurs by creating an immunosuppressive pulmonary microenvironment that stimulates tumor growth. Silica exposure boosts macrophages which cause them to produce proinflammatory cytokines.
One of the most important functions of macrophages, is that they present antigens, and recognize and destroy neoplastic cell. It is essential to determine if silica alters macrophages' ability to fulfill this task by reducing their antigen-presenting capabilities and also by altering important immune functions when there is a silica induced altered immune system for tumors.
While the IARC has long recognized asbestos as a carcinogen, it is not known whether or not silica can cause similar effects on host immune system functions. As with a number of other factors, the kind of silica exposure as well as the duration of the exposure are important in determining how the immune response to neoplasia will be affected. If, as some studies have shown that the number of Treg cells in a host is impacted in a way that decreases tumor-killing capacity, one could reasonably expect the antitumor immune system to be diminished in a silica exposed host.
Erionite
Malignant mesothelioma has been proven to be associated with asbestos exposure, but researchers recently discovered that a fibrous zeolite mineral known as Erionite may also trigger the disease. The findings were published on July 25, 2011, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Erionite, which is an igneous rock comprised of silica and aluminum is found in a variety of locations across the globe. It can be mined and used as a raw material in many industries, including glass and refractory materials. Erionite can also be processed and used as an aggregate for roads and other construction projects.
In the latter part of the 1970s, a high incidence of pleural mesothelioma took place in villages in Cappadocia, Turkey, that were near natural erionite deposits. Sarihidir and Karain were among the villages that were affected. A large proportion of mesotheliomas that were found in these communities could be due to erionite exposure.
In 1981, the first instance of lung disease caused by erionite in North America was documented. The man had worked as a road construction worker in Utah near a zeolite mine. A lung biopsy revealed extensive fibrosis of the pleura and parenchyma, and the composition of lung tissue was assessed by energy-dispersive-X-rays that were consistent with the erionite mineral.
In vitro studies have proven that erionite is carcinogenic. It may cause mesothelioma after inhalation, or injecting intrapleurally. Erionite also caused squamous cell cancer in mice that were exposed to the mineral through their diet.
A mesothelioma tumor cluster was found in 2008 in a small village in a region of zeolite richness of central Mexico. In the same region a mesothelioma patient was diagnosed with lung fibrosis that was extensive as well as pleural plaques, and an erionite-rich lung load.
Recent studies have focused on the development of mesothelioma arising from erionite in s North Dakota and other areas where gravel pits extracted from erionite are used to surface roads and other infrastructure. In these regions, activity-based and ambient testing of air was carried out to determine mesothelioma risk. The results revealed that erionite is likely to be responsible for mesothelioma. It is recommended that this exposure be carefully evaluated prior to a proposed relocation.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos is the most popular type of asbestos that is used. It is a serpentine-like mineral made of silica and magnesium, using the formula 3MgO*2SiO2*2H2O. It is available in three distinct forms: clinochrysotile (also called parachrysotile) as well as orthochrysotile (also called orthochrysotile) and parachrysotile. The differences between these forms are due to the variation in the ways oxygen atoms interact with the magnesium and silica tetrahedra. These interactions affect the properties of the material especially its tensile force and the way it interacts with water.
Although epithelioid mesothelioma causes of asbestos are thought to be hazardous Chrysotile is the only one in that it has been associated with mesothelioma as well as other diseases when exposure has been sustained or high-level. This is because of the way it functions on the human body. Chrysotile is less resistant to heat and has an increased affinity for the fatty substances that are found in our bloodstream. Chrysotile has a tendency to stay in the lungs for a longer time than other types, increasing its ability to cause disease.
In addition, chrysotile is often contaminated with the mineral tremolite, an amphibole. This makes it harder for the body to break down tremolite than it is to break down chrysotile. Health professionals are still convinced that chrysotile poses a serious risk despite the fact that many groups are fighting to keep it in use.
However, it is important to keep in mind that research on animals has shown that even when chrysotile is exposed at low levels it is still able to cause mesothelioma and cancer. This is because the substance can easily pass through the lung tissues and be absorbed into the lymph nodes.
The majority of mesothelioma diagnosed in the 11,000 Quebec chrysotile miners studied between 1992 and 1996 was caused by exposure to Tremolite. Examinations of the lungs postmortem of these miners revealed that the cases were concentrated in particular areas of the lungs. This indicates a strong link with tremolite.
To prevent mesothelioma from occurring, you must stop using asbestos in any form. All products containing asbestos should be removed, and buildings that were constructed with asbestos should be cleaned.