COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a type of lung disease which causes people to have difficulty breathing, which, over time, becomes worse. COPD is much like chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and while the primary cause of the disease is smoking, chemical fumes, exposure to asbestos and other environmental toxins can also cause COPD. People [...]
Materials which contain asbestos broadly fall into two categories: friable and non-friable. Non-friable asbestos encompasses materials in which the asbestos is bonded—firmly bound within the material, therefore unlikely to release any measurable levels of asbestos fibers into the air. Because of this, there is a much lower risk to the health of those who come [...]
If you ever wonder why asbestos is still legal, you aren’t alone. This lethal mineral continues to kill more than 200,000 people worldwide… every single year. But 100% of those deaths are preventable. That’s why Global Asbestos Awareness Week takes place every year from April 1-7. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) designates this week [...]
You may know that asbestos is found in many industrial applications, so the danger of exposure is usually a concern for workers in shipyards, manufacturing facilities, oil refineries, and other industrial jobs. But many other public buildings contain asbestos, like office buildings, municipal buildings, and even schools and hospitals. A local New Orleans charter school, [...]
Like many people, you may think that asbestos was banned a long time ago. But asbestos is still around in a lot of surprising places. The risk of exposure to this deadly chemical can happen in some surprising places. Your Home Even if you have a newer home, many construction materials still contain asbestos. Cement [...]
Even in 2018, there is still no cure for mesothelioma. By the time patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma, they usually only have a few years left to live. Yet discovering mesothelioma earlier can lead to better treatment options that could help patients live longer, healthier lives with this incurable disease. But is there a way [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
