By Katie Kelley
Asbestos, the hazardous building material linked to potentially deadly health problems including cancer and lung problems, has been the focus of a worldwide debate to ban its use in developing countries.
Anti-asbestos activists and asbestos victims - those suffering from the fatal side effects like mesothelioma or asbestosis - met in Turin, Italy to discuss the worldwide ban and justice against the companies that continue to use the material.
Due to its inexpensive nature, the material has been a favorite in developing countries, in part because it has been banned in other countries, including the European Union since 2005. Many of the harmful side effects, like the lung cancer mesothelioma, can take upwards of 30 to 40 years to manifest, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the initial asbestos exposure.
An Italian mesothelioma lawsuit is the largest class action lawsuits in the world, claim a major construction company. Asbestos contamination has affected more than 6,000 people in Italy and claimed the lives of at least 2,000. The plaintiffs - residents of four Italian cities where the company had factories as well as former employees who handled the material - are expected to seek several million Euros in compensation.
Ban Asbestos, a worldwide organization whose goal is ban the fibrous material and "end the impunity" towards companies that use asbestos, organized the meeting.
Although many countries have banned the substance, such as Brazil whose ban was judged constitutional, other countries either do not have a ban in place, or look down on companies that continue to use the substance.
In the United States, products that contain less than one percent of asbestos have not been banned, despite several attempts by lobby groups to enact a nationwide ban.
However, developing countries such as India do not have any bans in place, which allows free reign for the country to import the material from Russia and Canada to be used in housing material for the poor.
Many living in impoverished areas have very limited if any access to legal resources alerting them of the potential dangers of asbestos building materials. Even if they were to contract mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, it would be difficult to contact a mesothelioma attorney to represent them in court against the companies that continue to use the dangerous substance - despite the known risks involved.
Asbestos removal should only be performed by a licensed professional due to the hazardous nature of the material. The World Health Organization has stated that no safe levels of the carcinogen exist, which make it very difficult to just restrict the use to prevent future health problems. The advocacy groups maintain that a full ban is necessary in order to provide full protection against asbestos.
Learn more about mesothelioma laws and the current actions to prevent the use of asbestos at http://mesothelioma.legalview.com/. In addition to asbestos cancer litigation, visit Legal View to find a wealth of information available pertaining to traumatic brain injuries and other personal injury law.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katie_Kelley
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Eaten Alive!
By Eva Marquez
You can be living life with all its perks that a good healthy life can bring. You make plans for the future which you intend to fulfill, but there is always roadblock that life puts in front of us when we least need it. A diagnose of cancer in this case lung cancer can be devastating to a person.
The person that is diagnosed with this disease faces an emotional rollercoaster. The first thoughts and fears of a person told of its illness is, are they going to lose their life. And the second fear is how long they have to live. So many decisions to make and so many things to consider, and so many questions how,when,where and the why.
The worse time to make all those decisions is right after your diagnosed and told of your illness. If, it is not necessary or an emergency to make decision right then, you should take some time to digest what is going on. Get second opinions on diagnosis, treatments and try to get some counseling.
Lung cancer is a devastating cancer, if you have never seen someone suffer from this cancer,it is one that is ugly to see in someone that has it. In the later stages your breathing is quite labored and you lose your appetite, hair and your physical strength. In the last stage you begin to spit up blood and now your breathing has to be helped by oxygen. Your final days, are the most horrible days ever, you totally begin to throw up gobs of blood through your mouth, nose and ears. And, then finally it is all over... with so much suffering. Even if it sounds cruel you are thankful your loved one is gone. His/Her suffering and pain is over.
Lung cancer can be prevented by you making wise choices in life. You are only hurting yourself if you pickup that nasty habit of smoking cigarettes. You have to live with the consequences. You do not want to a statistic, do you? Treatments are painful and the emotional stress on you and your family and friends is not worth it. WHAT YOU WANT IS BEAUTIFUL LIFE!
We need to love ourselves and our body, in order to protect it as much as we can from getting ill. Don't pickup that cigarette it's not worth it. Love yourself and stay healthy their is a whole life ahead of you to live and enjoy.
Eva Marquez is the author of this article and it was written to help people realize that bad habits bring awful consequences to a persons life. Keep Yourself Healthy!...
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eva_Marquez
You can be living life with all its perks that a good healthy life can bring. You make plans for the future which you intend to fulfill, but there is always roadblock that life puts in front of us when we least need it. A diagnose of cancer in this case lung cancer can be devastating to a person.
The person that is diagnosed with this disease faces an emotional rollercoaster. The first thoughts and fears of a person told of its illness is, are they going to lose their life. And the second fear is how long they have to live. So many decisions to make and so many things to consider, and so many questions how,when,where and the why.
The worse time to make all those decisions is right after your diagnosed and told of your illness. If, it is not necessary or an emergency to make decision right then, you should take some time to digest what is going on. Get second opinions on diagnosis, treatments and try to get some counseling.
Lung cancer is a devastating cancer, if you have never seen someone suffer from this cancer,it is one that is ugly to see in someone that has it. In the later stages your breathing is quite labored and you lose your appetite, hair and your physical strength. In the last stage you begin to spit up blood and now your breathing has to be helped by oxygen. Your final days, are the most horrible days ever, you totally begin to throw up gobs of blood through your mouth, nose and ears. And, then finally it is all over... with so much suffering. Even if it sounds cruel you are thankful your loved one is gone. His/Her suffering and pain is over.
Lung cancer can be prevented by you making wise choices in life. You are only hurting yourself if you pickup that nasty habit of smoking cigarettes. You have to live with the consequences. You do not want to a statistic, do you? Treatments are painful and the emotional stress on you and your family and friends is not worth it. WHAT YOU WANT IS BEAUTIFUL LIFE!
We need to love ourselves and our body, in order to protect it as much as we can from getting ill. Don't pickup that cigarette it's not worth it. Love yourself and stay healthy their is a whole life ahead of you to live and enjoy.
Eva Marquez is the author of this article and it was written to help people realize that bad habits bring awful consequences to a persons life. Keep Yourself Healthy!...
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eva_Marquez
Saturday, March 13, 2010
What is an Average Asbestos Removal Cost?
By Josh G. Harding
Asbestos is a toxic material seen in a large number of materials such as insulation, ceiling tiles, flooring tiles, sprayed-on plaster for acoustic or decorative walls or ceilings, and plenty of others. Asbestos dust particles are extremely tiny and once airborne can be sucked into the lungs. As soon as the body's immune system cells attempt to break down the dust particles lodged in the lung tissue the immune system cells die. Scar tissue grows all over the lifeless cells and continues do to so for many years after being exposed. Eventually there's sufficient scar tissue to cause the lungs to stop working completely. As lethal as asbestos fibers and lung cancer are, signs and symptoms might not emerge for as much as 40 to 60 years after the instance of exposure.
If you are ready to begin remodeling your private home or repairing items that might contain asbestos, like asbestos ceiling tile, flooring tiles, or electrical insulation, there are some issues that you ought to be conscious of. Asbestos, when left intact, will ordinarily not produce airborne dust particles or fibers. The hazard occurs when asbestos-containing products are disturbed, permitting the small dust particles to be dispersed into the air where they are often inhaled. By no means try and take out or restore these hazardous materials without extreme care. It's generally best to get a professional abatement contractor to take out these toxic materials.
Asbestos removal cost will differ broadly contingent on your specific situation, but it's not cheap. Some abatement companies will have a minimum charge as high as $2,000 or higher, even for minor jobs. Others will charge as a lot as $400 or higher for a minor amount of asbestos ceiling removal or to take out insulation around a ten-foot part of pipe.
If your private home has asbestos in the ceilings, floors, partitions, roof, and pipes a complete removal might be as high as $2 for each square foot. Complete removal in a 1,500 square foot residence could exceed $30,000. Nonetheless, that is an extreme amount. Generally, a 1,700 square foot residence will only cost about $400 to $900 for removal as the toxic material can be encapsulated as a substitute for being completely removed or may only be present in just a few spots.
To keep costs to a minimum it's best to first have an inspector do an inspection. The inspector will be able to let you know if there's any toxic asbestos in your home, where it's located, and if it causes a possible health issue. This inspection might possibly help you eliminate some unwarranted removal work which will lower the asbestos elimination cost. There could also be materials that can be contained as a substitute for being eliminated, successfully lowering your expense.
When contracting out the work it's advisable to use two different companies; one to complete the inspections and the other to do the actual physical job or removal work. Have the inspector do the inspection previous to beginning the work and then once again after the work is done. If the identical company carries out both the inspections and the removal there could be a conflict of interest.
The after-the-job inspection should be in writing and should include lab analysis of collected samples. It must also include normal visits to your home as the work is being carried out to make sure that every part is being performed by the book. Also, make sure that your abatement contractor provides you with a written assertion specifying that each of the essential operations were followed in accordance with your state laws and regulations.
Make sure the work space is cordoned off fully from the rest of the house during the removal job. It must also be marked as "hazardous" to stop individuals from getting into the zone where harmful fibers could possibly be breathed in.
It's possible to save money by doing the job of removal on your own, but it can be extremely unsafe. Previous to doing the job yourself you should talk with your state and local health departments to determine if they provide any training services.
Removing asbestos can be an extremely hard and costly job. Learn how much an average asbestos removal cost will be plus valuable details regarding asbestos tile removal.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_G._Harding
Asbestos is a toxic material seen in a large number of materials such as insulation, ceiling tiles, flooring tiles, sprayed-on plaster for acoustic or decorative walls or ceilings, and plenty of others. Asbestos dust particles are extremely tiny and once airborne can be sucked into the lungs. As soon as the body's immune system cells attempt to break down the dust particles lodged in the lung tissue the immune system cells die. Scar tissue grows all over the lifeless cells and continues do to so for many years after being exposed. Eventually there's sufficient scar tissue to cause the lungs to stop working completely. As lethal as asbestos fibers and lung cancer are, signs and symptoms might not emerge for as much as 40 to 60 years after the instance of exposure.
If you are ready to begin remodeling your private home or repairing items that might contain asbestos, like asbestos ceiling tile, flooring tiles, or electrical insulation, there are some issues that you ought to be conscious of. Asbestos, when left intact, will ordinarily not produce airborne dust particles or fibers. The hazard occurs when asbestos-containing products are disturbed, permitting the small dust particles to be dispersed into the air where they are often inhaled. By no means try and take out or restore these hazardous materials without extreme care. It's generally best to get a professional abatement contractor to take out these toxic materials.
Asbestos removal cost will differ broadly contingent on your specific situation, but it's not cheap. Some abatement companies will have a minimum charge as high as $2,000 or higher, even for minor jobs. Others will charge as a lot as $400 or higher for a minor amount of asbestos ceiling removal or to take out insulation around a ten-foot part of pipe.
If your private home has asbestos in the ceilings, floors, partitions, roof, and pipes a complete removal might be as high as $2 for each square foot. Complete removal in a 1,500 square foot residence could exceed $30,000. Nonetheless, that is an extreme amount. Generally, a 1,700 square foot residence will only cost about $400 to $900 for removal as the toxic material can be encapsulated as a substitute for being completely removed or may only be present in just a few spots.
To keep costs to a minimum it's best to first have an inspector do an inspection. The inspector will be able to let you know if there's any toxic asbestos in your home, where it's located, and if it causes a possible health issue. This inspection might possibly help you eliminate some unwarranted removal work which will lower the asbestos elimination cost. There could also be materials that can be contained as a substitute for being eliminated, successfully lowering your expense.
When contracting out the work it's advisable to use two different companies; one to complete the inspections and the other to do the actual physical job or removal work. Have the inspector do the inspection previous to beginning the work and then once again after the work is done. If the identical company carries out both the inspections and the removal there could be a conflict of interest.
The after-the-job inspection should be in writing and should include lab analysis of collected samples. It must also include normal visits to your home as the work is being carried out to make sure that every part is being performed by the book. Also, make sure that your abatement contractor provides you with a written assertion specifying that each of the essential operations were followed in accordance with your state laws and regulations.
Make sure the work space is cordoned off fully from the rest of the house during the removal job. It must also be marked as "hazardous" to stop individuals from getting into the zone where harmful fibers could possibly be breathed in.
It's possible to save money by doing the job of removal on your own, but it can be extremely unsafe. Previous to doing the job yourself you should talk with your state and local health departments to determine if they provide any training services.
Removing asbestos can be an extremely hard and costly job. Learn how much an average asbestos removal cost will be plus valuable details regarding asbestos tile removal.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_G._Harding
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
What Are the Different Types of Mesothelioma?
By Tony Ulrich
The pleural mesothelioma typically originates in the chest and frequently also affects the lungs. A timely diagnosis is extremely tricky because early detection is rarely possible, due to the fact that at the early stage of this condition, a patient doesn't exhibit any or only rather mild symptoms. Later on, the most commonly seen signs and symptoms include chest pain that won't subside, weight loss and fever.
Further to that, but less frequent symptoms, may include breathing problems caused by fluid accumulations in the chest. The survival prognosis for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma is poor. On average, a patient does not live longer than 17 months after diagnosis and only bout 8% will continue to live for another three to five years.
As you can tell by the name, pericardial mesothelioma involves and affects primarily the heart. This form of mesothelioma is the least frequently seen one. The cancer starts in the pericardium which is a lining that surrounds the heart. The progression of this illness will result in insufficient oxygen production of the heart. The symptoms are very similar to those exhibited by patients suffering from a heart attack and usually include severe chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is different. It originates in the abdomen and later on continues to spread and affect other organs located in the abdomen, such as the liver, spleen and bowel. Patients of peritoneal mesothelioma report excruciating abdominal pain as the most prominent symptom, however, we also often see swollen feet, nausea and vomiting along with fever and difficulties with bowel movements. Peritoneal mesothelioma comes with a poor outlook on survival, too. On average, patients do not survive more than 10 months after they exhibited the first conclusive symptoms.
Another rather rare form among the asbestos induced cancers is the so called malignant mesothelioma. However, this is the most severe kind of this particular health condition. Often lying dormant for years or decades make an early detecting and diagnosis practically impossible. As a consequence, patients who got diagnosed can only be provided with treatments of very limited efficacy. Malignant mesothelioma is exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and may occur in patients who have been inhaling or ingesting the highly toxic dust particles of the contaminated air at asbestos sites.
Least frequently we see the rare benign mesothelioma. Benign means that it is not cancerous, yet, still very tricky to detect early. The treatment usually involves a procedure with the objective of removing the tumor surgically. Since benign mesothelioma is not a cancer, the prognosis it typically very optimistic.
If you know that you were exposed to asbestos at some point in your life or encounter any symtoms associated with the aformentioned types of mesothelioma, it is advisable to consult with a specialized health care professional and discuss the next steps.
The author Tony Ulrich was diagnosed with kidney cancer in October of 2009. In his research on what his cancer could have been caused by, he came across with data that suggests a strong link to environmental toxins, such as asbestos. Please visit his Kidney Cancer and Mesothelioma Info website for more details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Ulrich
The pleural mesothelioma typically originates in the chest and frequently also affects the lungs. A timely diagnosis is extremely tricky because early detection is rarely possible, due to the fact that at the early stage of this condition, a patient doesn't exhibit any or only rather mild symptoms. Later on, the most commonly seen signs and symptoms include chest pain that won't subside, weight loss and fever.
Further to that, but less frequent symptoms, may include breathing problems caused by fluid accumulations in the chest. The survival prognosis for patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma is poor. On average, a patient does not live longer than 17 months after diagnosis and only bout 8% will continue to live for another three to five years.
As you can tell by the name, pericardial mesothelioma involves and affects primarily the heart. This form of mesothelioma is the least frequently seen one. The cancer starts in the pericardium which is a lining that surrounds the heart. The progression of this illness will result in insufficient oxygen production of the heart. The symptoms are very similar to those exhibited by patients suffering from a heart attack and usually include severe chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is different. It originates in the abdomen and later on continues to spread and affect other organs located in the abdomen, such as the liver, spleen and bowel. Patients of peritoneal mesothelioma report excruciating abdominal pain as the most prominent symptom, however, we also often see swollen feet, nausea and vomiting along with fever and difficulties with bowel movements. Peritoneal mesothelioma comes with a poor outlook on survival, too. On average, patients do not survive more than 10 months after they exhibited the first conclusive symptoms.
Another rather rare form among the asbestos induced cancers is the so called malignant mesothelioma. However, this is the most severe kind of this particular health condition. Often lying dormant for years or decades make an early detecting and diagnosis practically impossible. As a consequence, patients who got diagnosed can only be provided with treatments of very limited efficacy. Malignant mesothelioma is exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and may occur in patients who have been inhaling or ingesting the highly toxic dust particles of the contaminated air at asbestos sites.
Least frequently we see the rare benign mesothelioma. Benign means that it is not cancerous, yet, still very tricky to detect early. The treatment usually involves a procedure with the objective of removing the tumor surgically. Since benign mesothelioma is not a cancer, the prognosis it typically very optimistic.
If you know that you were exposed to asbestos at some point in your life or encounter any symtoms associated with the aformentioned types of mesothelioma, it is advisable to consult with a specialized health care professional and discuss the next steps.
The author Tony Ulrich was diagnosed with kidney cancer in October of 2009. In his research on what his cancer could have been caused by, he came across with data that suggests a strong link to environmental toxins, such as asbestos. Please visit his Kidney Cancer and Mesothelioma Info website for more details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Ulrich
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Choosing a Mesothelioma Doctor - Tips For Finding the Right Doctor After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
By Elizabeth Ryan
After you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, choosing which mesothelioma doctor you will trust your care to is one of several important decisions that must be made. The tips below offer guidelines for finding a mesothelioma doctor who can meet your needs, ensure that you get the best possible care, and help you through this difficult time.
Tip 1: Find a Doctor who has Experience Treating Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Cases
Mesothelioma cancer is a relatively rare disease and not all doctors are knowledgeable regarding asbestos exposure, diagnosing mesothelioma, and the types of mesothelioma treatment. It is important for mesothelioma patients to find a doctor who has experience treating patients with this disease, particularly if they are interested in exploring some of the newer and non-traditional forms of mesothelioma treatment. There are several ways that you can find mesothelioma doctors, including the following:
Ask your primary care physician to refer you to a mesothelioma specialist
Contact an organization such as the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation or the American Cancer Society and ask if they can provide assistance
Ask any friends, family members, or coworkers who have dealt with a mesothelioma diagnosis if they can recommend a doctor.
Remember that every mesothelioma case is different and every patient has their own unique set of needs and concerns. You may have to consult with several mesothelioma doctors before you find one that you are comfortable with.
Tip 2: Ask the Right Questions
Before choosing a mesothelioma specialist, you should talk to the doctor and ask questions in order to learn about his or her background and qualifications. This can also help you get a sense of the doctor's personality and character. Listed below are three key questions that you should ask a mesothelioma doctor that you are considering going to for treatment:
How many cases of mesothelioma cancer have you treated in your career?
What kind of specialized education, training, and certification have you received related to mesothelioma and asbestos cancer?
What kinds of mesothelioma treatment options can you provide?
It is important to find a mesothelioma doctor who you trust to provide the highest level of care possible. You need to be comfortable communicating with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have regarding your mesothelioma treatment. It can be very helpful if your family has a good relationship with the doctor as well, particularly if your family members are taking an active role in your treatment.
Liz Ryan is a Writing and Content Specialist for IQ Mesothelioma. Visit IQMesothelioma.com to learn more about Choosing a Mesothelioma Doctor and search our national mesothelioma doctor directory to find a mesothelioma specialist in your area.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Ryan
After you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, choosing which mesothelioma doctor you will trust your care to is one of several important decisions that must be made. The tips below offer guidelines for finding a mesothelioma doctor who can meet your needs, ensure that you get the best possible care, and help you through this difficult time.
Tip 1: Find a Doctor who has Experience Treating Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Cases
Mesothelioma cancer is a relatively rare disease and not all doctors are knowledgeable regarding asbestos exposure, diagnosing mesothelioma, and the types of mesothelioma treatment. It is important for mesothelioma patients to find a doctor who has experience treating patients with this disease, particularly if they are interested in exploring some of the newer and non-traditional forms of mesothelioma treatment. There are several ways that you can find mesothelioma doctors, including the following:
Ask your primary care physician to refer you to a mesothelioma specialist
Contact an organization such as the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation or the American Cancer Society and ask if they can provide assistance
Ask any friends, family members, or coworkers who have dealt with a mesothelioma diagnosis if they can recommend a doctor.
Remember that every mesothelioma case is different and every patient has their own unique set of needs and concerns. You may have to consult with several mesothelioma doctors before you find one that you are comfortable with.
Tip 2: Ask the Right Questions
Before choosing a mesothelioma specialist, you should talk to the doctor and ask questions in order to learn about his or her background and qualifications. This can also help you get a sense of the doctor's personality and character. Listed below are three key questions that you should ask a mesothelioma doctor that you are considering going to for treatment:
How many cases of mesothelioma cancer have you treated in your career?
What kind of specialized education, training, and certification have you received related to mesothelioma and asbestos cancer?
What kinds of mesothelioma treatment options can you provide?
It is important to find a mesothelioma doctor who you trust to provide the highest level of care possible. You need to be comfortable communicating with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have regarding your mesothelioma treatment. It can be very helpful if your family has a good relationship with the doctor as well, particularly if your family members are taking an active role in your treatment.
Liz Ryan is a Writing and Content Specialist for IQ Mesothelioma. Visit IQMesothelioma.com to learn more about Choosing a Mesothelioma Doctor and search our national mesothelioma doctor directory to find a mesothelioma specialist in your area.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Ryan
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