Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos
The lining of the chest wall and abdomen (peritoneum), and lung (peritoneum) is inflamed mesothelioma pleural occurs. About 90% of mesotheliomas develop in this location.
Doctors can detect fluid buildup and symptoms of mesothelioma through blood tests, X-rays and CT scans. To confirm mesothelioma, a tissue biopsy is required. Treatment includes surgery, chemo and radiation.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is composed of bundles of strong, microscopic fibers. It was used in various industrial and construction products in the 1930s through the 1980s due to its being fire-resistant, strong, and durable. Many workers in the shipbuilding industry, construction asbestos mining, shipbuilding, and other related occupations were exposed asbestos during this time. Asbestos exposure is often unavoidable and is often done without knowledge of its risks.
Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to mesothelioma. They then can be absorbed into the lungs and then be transported to the lining of the chest cavity (pleura). The asbestos fibers irritate the pleura, causing the formation of scar tissue. Over time, this scar tissue can grow into malignant mesothelioma tumors.
If asbestos fibers are swallowed, they could be absorbed into the stomach and intestine. There, they may irritate the stomach's lining and intestines (peritoneum). This can result in mesothelioma that affects the peritoneum.
Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women and the disease is most common in people 65 years or older. This is likely because men were more likely to work in jobs that involved asbestos, and also to be exposed to more prolonged exposure. Mesothelioma can also develop in children however it is extremely rare.
Smoking and family history are additional factors that increase your chance of developing mesothelioma. The risk of mesothelioma for family members of someone with the disease is slightly higher, as they could have been exposed via secondary exposure to asbestos. The signs of mesothelioma may be decades before they appear following the initial exposure to asbestos.
The symptoms of mesothelioma differ depending on the kind. The majority of people who are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma suffer from breathing problems and chest pain. Others experience breathing problems and feel pain in the throat or abdomen. Asbestos is a variety of types and therefore it is important to see a specialist mesothelioma doctor who can identify the right type of mesothelioma. These doctors can recommend the best treatment for each patient. The best treatment is vital to improve the quality of life of patients as well as their chances of survival.
Silica
Silica can be found in soil, rocks, concrete, sand and other materials. Silica dust from the air is a risk for workers who use grinders, saws or drills to cut or grind into these materials. Silica dust can cause lung disease and cause damage. Silica may also increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases.
The crystallized silica is a well-known carcinogen and has been linked to a variety of autoimmune diseases. Silica poses a risk to the respiratory system because of its abrasive nature that can tear and scrape the lining of the nasal and respiratory passageways. It can lead to the condition known as silicosis, which is an ongoing fibrosing lung condition that can cause scarring and reduce the lung's capacity to absorb oxygen. mesothelioma not caused by asbestos may cause breathing problems and fatigue. It can also make someone more prone to infectious diseases of the lungs, like tuberculosis.
According to studies in animal models, exposure to silica can cause changes in the tumor immune response. This is due to the creation of an immunosuppressive pulmonary microenvironment that encourages the growth of tumors. Silica exposure increases the amount of macrophages in the lung, which results in them producing excessive proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. These can damage epithelial cells and trigger cellular transformations that are typical of silicosis.
Another important function of macrophages is that they are antigen-presenting cells that are able to recognize and destroy neoplastic cells. It is important to determine if silica alters macrophages' capability to fulfill this task by reducing the ability to present antigens and also by altering key immune functions when there is silica-induced altered tumor immunity.
While the IARC has long acknowledged asbestos as a carcinogen, it is not known whether silica may have similar effects on host immune system functions. Like a variety of other factors the type of silica exposure and the duration of the exposure play a significant role in determining the way in which the immune response to neoplasia will be affected. As some studies have shown that the number of Tregs in a host can be impacted in a manner that is able to decrease the ability of killing tumors, it is reasonable to expect the antitumor immunity in silica-exposed hosts to be diminished.
Erionite
Malignant mesothelioma is known to be linked to asbestos exposure, however, researchers recently found 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 is an igneous rock comprised of silica and aluminum can be found in many places around the world. It can be mined for raw materials and utilized in a variety of industries such as glass and the refractory. Erionite can also be processed and used as an aggregate for road construction and other projects.
In the late 1970s a high incidence pleural mesothelioma was discovered in villages in Cappadocia (Turkey) that were near natural erionite deposit. This included Sarihidir, Karain and Tuzkoy. The exposure to erionite is responsible for a high number of mesotheliomas which have been detected in these villages.
In 1981, the first case of lung disease caused by erionite in North America was published. The man had worked as an employee of a road construction company in Utah near a zeolite deposit. A lung biopsy revealed extensive pleural and parenchymal fibrous tissue, and the lung tissue had compositions determined by energy-dispersive X-ray to be consistent with Erionite.
Research has confirmed the carcinogenicity and caused mesothelioma to be seen in rats when inhaled or intrapleurally injected. Erionite caused squamous cell carcinoma in mice exposed to the mineral via their diet.
A mesothelioma cluster was identified in 2008 in a small village in a region of zeolite richness of central Mexico. In the same region, a mesothelioma victim was diagnosed with lung fibrosis extensive as well as pleural plaques, and a lung load containing erionite.
Recent studies have focused on the development of erionite-related mesothelioma in southwestern North Dakota and other areas where gravel pits extracted from erionite were used to create roads and other infrastructure. The air tests were conducted in the ambient and activity-based areas. was conducted in these areas to identify potential mesothelioma risk factors. The results revealed that erionite could be the cause for mesothelioma. It is recommended that this exposure is carefully assessed prior to a proposed relocation.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, is the most common type of asbestos that is used. It is a serpentine substance composed of silica and magnesium with the formula 3MgO*2SiO2*2H2O. It comes in three distinct forms: the clinochrysotile (also called parachrysotile), orthochrysotile (also known as orthochrysotile), and parachrysotile. The differences between the three forms are due to the different interactions between oxygen atoms and the silicon tetrahedra, magnesium and. These interactions affect the material's properties. They affect its tension force as well as how it reacts to water.
Chrysotile, though all forms of asbestos can be considered hazardous is only associated with mesothelioma or other maladies in instances where exposure was prolonged or high. This is due in part to the way it affects the human body. Chrysotile is less resistant to heat, and also has more affinity to fatty substances found in the bloodstream. Chrysotile has a tendency to stay in the lungs longer than other types, thereby increasing the possibility of developing disease.
Chrysotile can also be contaminated by the amphibole tremolite. This makes it more difficult for the body to break down tremolite than to break down the chrysotile. Health experts are still convinced that chrysotile presents dangers, despite the fact that many groups are fighting to keep it in use.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that animal research has shown that chrysotile may cause cancer and mesothelioma, even at low exposure levels. This is due to the fact that chrysotile could easily penetrate lung tissues and be taken up by lymph nodes.
However, the mesothelioma cases that were observed in the 11,000 Quebec chrysotile mine workers studied up to 1992 were mostly caused by tremolite exposure. Further examination of the lungs postmortem from miners revealed that pleural mesothelioma were found to be concentrated in particular regions of the lungs, which suggests a strong connection with tremolite exposure.
The only way to completely avoid mesothelioma is by stopping all forms of asbestos. All asbestos-containing products must be removed, and any buildings that were constructed with asbestos must be cleaned.