What are the asbestos risk factors? Mesothelioma cancer statistics indicate that specific environments, industries and jobs have a higher mesothelioma risk. The risk of getting cancer from asbestos is very real.

A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting the diagnosis: malignant mesothelioma. But having a risk factor, or even several asbestos disease risk factors, does not mean that you will develop mesothelioma lung cancer.

Exposure to asbestos is the main risk factor for developing mesothelioma injury. This injury could develop into full fledged mesothelioma lung cancer.

So, what are the risk asbestos factors? And how do we manage the risk of asbestos exposure?

Mesothelioma Statistics

Mesothelioma statistics reveal that 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma cases annually receive the diagnosis: malignant mesothelioma. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of all cases of mesothelioma are found to be the direct result of asbestos exposure.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as many as a three quarter million schools and public buildings in the country today contain asbestos insulation. These were built before new asbestos mesothelioma law started to constrain the use of asbestos early in the 1970s. Asbestos insulation may be found in as many as 10% to 15% of schools in the United States.

Industrial Risk

What is the industrial asbestos risk of your work place? The mesothelioma risk attached to various industries can be plotted on a continuum: from high industrial risk – to the least risk.

Firstly, you must identify asbestos content inherent to your building, equipment, raw materials or products. Then compare this information with mesothelioma statistics for your industry.

Environmental Risk

What is the asbestos risk of your environment? Asbestos minerals are widespread in the global environment.

Asbestos risk may occur in large natural deposits, or as contaminants in other minerals and products. If you are exposed to asbestos, many factors determine asbestos exposure risk and potential asbestos related diseases.

These factors include the how much, how long, the mineral form and size distribution, and how you come in contact with it. Studies have shown that smokers are more prone to asbestos disease than non-smokers.

Does the Silent Killer stalk your work place? The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) place the duty on employers to identify and assess occupational asbestos risk.

Asbestos Disease Risk

Asbestos disease risk, is the risk of serious disease after inhaling asbestos dust. In industry, they separate and process asbestos fibers into new compounds and textures, forming a microscopic dust.

If inhaled, it can collect in the lungs, stomach or other organs and eventually lead to the development of serious, life threatening asbestos diseases. A mesothelioma prognosis is almost never favourable.

Asbestos Products Risk

Asbestos products risk? The Silent Killer Stalking? The risk of mesothelioma lung cancer from asbestos insulation, asbestos siding, asbestos tile, asbestos flooring, and a host of other products exist everywhere around us.

Asbestos was not only cheap to buy, but it is also pliable and sometimes, soft like cotton. Some forms of asbestos fibers have cloth-like qualities.

Asbestos fibers can therefore be easily woven into fireproof protection apparel for rescue officials and firefighters. Items for other professionals and workers, who are exposed to high heat, are also manufactured, creating asbestos products risk.

Its industrial properties was in strong demand during the industrial revolution. An estimated 4,000 products made during the 1900s contained asbestos fibers

Asbestos Risk Assessment

You need specialist advisors to perform an asbestos risk assessment in managing and preventing mesothelioma injury. Their asbestos testing protocol and results are also invaluable for mesothelioma research projects.

All entries in a company’s asbestos register become vital in the event that you receive a call from an asbestos lawyer who works on a mesothelioma claim.

City and town management are increasingly being held responsible for asbestos exposure in the areas under their management.

It is expected that the focus in this regard will soon expand to seaside venues. Asbestos used to be the building material of choice close to the oceans.

Asbestos Risk Management

Asbestos risk management is the legal responsibility of every manager or owner of a business, or landlord. Asbestos mesothelioma law is clear i.t.o. management’s responsibility.

There is an increased global effort to minimise asbestos exposure, cut down on mesothelioma injury and asbestosis mesothelioma.

This was driven in part by the large asbestos settlements granted in mesothelioma lawsuits.

Early in the 1970s we saw the first drafts of mesothelioma cancer law accepted by various regulating bodies of developed countries internationally.

However in a country like South Africa, laws were only made in 2008 to finally control the mining and manufacturing of asbestos products.

Most asbestos products are reasonably safe if it is kept undisturbed, painted and well maintained. However, most people will be surprised to notice the large number of asbestos products in their living and work environments, that are poorly maintained.

Pieter Pepler is a management consultant to small and medium enterpises. He has a keen interest in in health aspects and spends much of his time researching and writing about the causes and alternative treatment options for the natural treatment of various chronic diseases.

His work on asbestos mesothelioma risk and related research is published on his Mesothelioma-Junction.com [http://www.diagnosis-malignant-mesothelioma-prognosis-claims-settlement.com] website.

Pieter has also done an asbestos picture study of asbestos in a popular seaside holiday destination, entitled: A Silent Killer Stalking Your Favorite Beach Destination?

Australia has the highest per capita rate of mesothelioma cases. The worst, experts say, is yet to come, Most of the mesothelioma cases in Australia are of the malignant pleural mesothelioma type. Most of the detected cases have contracted the disease due to exposure to asbestos. When the asbestos fibers or asbestos dust is inhaled through the nose, it travels down the respiratory system. Then it settles down in the lungs. The lungs have a lining called as the mesothelium lining. When this lining comes in touch with the asbestos fibers, it starts behaving in a funny manner.

It starts dividing rapidly and it also starts having longer life spans. This causes tumors in the lungs and this condition is called pleural mesothelioma. This may be cancerous (malignant pleural mesothelioma) or non-cancerous (benign pleural mesothelioma). Australia has a very high number of malignant pleural mesothelioma cases. This is a very terrible condition and has no known cure. Since the symptoms of this disease like fever, cough, chest pain, etc. are often confused with other diseases like pneumonia; it is quite difficult to correctly diagnose this disease.

Mostly it is diagnosed only in the last stages of the cancer. The patient lives for hardly a year after the diagnosis. Also, the latency period of this disease is very long. Latency period is the period between exposure to asbestos fibers and the onset of this disease. Because of the long latency period of nearly 20 to 30 years, many times this disease is not spoken as connected to asbestos. Australia has about 16 cases per million populations of adults affected with mesothelioma every year. Also, the number of mesothelioma cases in men is much higher than women. Around 600 cases of mesothelioma are recorded every year in Australia. It is expected that in the next 10-15 years, some 13000 more mesothelioma cases will be recorded.

There is a high-risk group in Australia. The following people of Australia seem to be getting mesothelioma more as compared to the remaining population:

o Town Residents

o Builders and building laborers

o Workers of shipbuilding and dockyard

o Railway workers

o Asbestos factory workers

o Power station employees.

Though Australia has such a huge incidence of mesothelioma deaths, Australia is the world’s pioneer in undertaking lot of medical research in mesothelioma. It has found a new method of treatment that promises to reduce the mortality rate. Since, there is no cure for this disease, it is better if it detected earlier. The normal methods of treatment like chemotherapy and surgery do not work in the last stages of cancer; so it is better if the disease is detected as early as possible. The Australian researchers have invented a new Screening test that can help detect mesothelioma of the malignant pleural type. This can be used in the high-risk group to find out early evidences of the malignant pleural mesothelioma. The earlier the disease is detected, the more better the chances of survival of the patient. The Australian researchers are undertaking more and more research in the medical field of mesothelioma. Australia is a real pioneer in mesothelioma research. It is a leader and example for all the other countries. Though Australia has done So much to advance mesothelioma research, still the future of Australia is bleak.

It is expected what the number of mesothelioma deaths in Australia will continue to skyrocket till the year 2020. After this, it is expected that the mesothelioma deaths will steadily decline before finally stopping. This is mainly because of the long latency period of mesothelioma. So, even after all types of asbestos are completely banned, the effects of asbestos exposure can be felt till some 20 to 30 years later. The one advantage of all the research is that the chances of survival have increased for mesothelioma patients.

Also, the life span of the patient after the detection of the disease has increased. Previously, the patient had hardly a year left to live. However, now, due to early diagnosis, this has substantially increased. Australia should continue to undertake more research on mesothelioma for the global good. It should try to advance medical science to make new innovations in the treatment of mesothelioma. All the other countries should actively support and help Australian efforts. Australia should also make available the fruits of its efforts for the entire wide world.