As many hard-working folks that have lived and worked in Louisiana for a significant amount of time are aware, there is a chance that they may have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. The numbers are staggering. Many of the latest reports put the number of residents of Louisiana that have died from mesothelioma, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Most of us are aware that asbestos can be dangerous, and can potentially cause mesothelioma—a very serious type of cancer. Asbestos is a fibrous material, mined from the ground, and mixed with many different materials to provide fire-proofing, insulation and strength. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to easily identify asbestos, and asbestos is not [...]