If you live and work in the state of Louisiana, and have done so for a significant length of time, you may have been exposed to asbestos in your workplace. Some of the latest figures put the number of residents in the state of Louisiana that died from mesothelioma—a disease caused by asbestos exposure- at [...]
Asbestos is a substance which is found under the ground, and is a fibrous, crystalline mineral. Asbestos is mined, then compacted in mills into a powder which contains microscopic fibers. Originally, asbestos was used in factories, as well as in shipyards, as a heat insulator and fireproofing material, as well as in many other applications. [...]
Most of us associate asbestos exposure with a workplace in which items containing asbestos are manufactured. While it is true that the majority of those who develop mesothelioma—a cancer caused by repeated exposure to asbestos— were directly exposed to the substance, there are those who develop mesothelioma from “secondhand” exposure. “Shaker cases” of mesothelioma [...]
For literally decades, mesothelioma—a disease which stems from exposure to asbestos—has been causing injury and death, even though scientists have known for more than 70 years that asbestos has potentially deadly effects on the human body. In 1973, the EPA banned the use of spray-on asbestos for insulation and fireproofing. Later, the agency banned the [...]
While there are plenty of dangers in our modern world, the buildings where we spend hundreds of thousands of hours working—as well as our homes, in some cases—could potentially be harming our health. Corporate buildings constructed prior to the 1980’s tend to have many components which contain asbestos, including fireproofing materials applied on steel beams [...]
If you have ever been involved in gardening, it is likely you have encountered vermiculite, which is often mixed with potting soil in order to “lighten” up the soil, allowing much better water retention. Vermiculite is also used in insulation materials, and, normally, is not a problem; however, there are issues regarding tainted vermiculite from [...]
There are approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed every year in the United States, and while mesothelioma rates have reduced slightly in the United States, they continue to increase in other countries. Most cases of mesothelioma are directly related to work-exposure to asbestos, which is used in a wide range of industries. While chemotherapy [...]
Benzene is a volatile organic compound; most commonly it is a colorless liquid with a sweet smell that is highly flammable. Unfortunately, the effects of benzene on the human body are anything but sweet. Benzene is formed through natural processes, as well as the activities of human beings. Forest fires and volcanoes produce a certain [...]
Despite the fact that asbestos is a known carcinogen, according to OSHA, every day in the United States almost 1.3 million people will go to a workplace where they will be exposed to significant levels of asbestos. In the past, exposure to asbestos was concentrated in the milling and mining of raw materials, as well [...]
Those who have been exposed to asbestos, and later developed mesothelioma or other cancers, can sometimes complement their medical treatments with vitamins, herbal supplements or other types of therapeutic supplements, to avoid side effects and increase the chance of survival. Considering that Americans spent more than $20 billion on dietary supplements in 2015, it appears [...]
