A very disturbing aspect of occupational lung
diseases is that most of them show no symptoms until the onset
of the, often terminal, disease is quite advanced. Additionally,
those afflicted become extremely susceptible to developing
other disabling or terminal lung diseases such as mesothelioma,
primary lung cancer, tuberculosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease.These diseases are the result of inhalation of hazardous
substances. Any worker exposed to harmful substances should
take out a hazardous material insurance to safeguard himself
and his family.
Pursuing a panacea, governments and institutions have been
trying to identify ways to prevent and control occupational
lung diseases, such as mesothelioma.
The UK has introduced, in May 2005, some
stringent amendments to its laws in order to promote correct
management of asbestos. These amendments to the Control
of Asbestos at Work Regulations (2002) will affect everyone
responsible for the maintenance of commercial property
and can ultimately leave them personally open to prosecution.
Scientists have been researching ways of neutralizing
asbestos fibers released into the atmosphere. Italian researcher
Bice Fubini and her colleagues at the University of Turin
have discovered that a eugenol extracted from cloves has the
properties to safely neutralize deadly asbestos fibres. They
developed a procedure by which a combination of the eugenol
Phenylpropan, which occurs also in carnations, and hydrogen
peroxide hardens on contact with asbestos fibers within a
short time to a polymer. The krebserregenden fibers are embedded
surely into the polymer and as they do not whirl in the air,
they are not inhalable. However, whether this polymer can
be allowed to remain in the reorganized buildings or whether
they need to be removed is still unclear.
Prosecution attorney's specializing in mesothelioma claims
have been active in securing citizen's rights. Such measures
ensure that regulations are enforced and implemented, so that
future generations do not have to suffer through exposure
to hazardous substances like asbestos and silica.
Asbestosis:
Asbestosis increases
the risk of developing lung cancer by 5-fold in both smokers
and non-smokers.
~ shortness of breath
~ dry cough
~ tightness in chest
~ sympoms worsen over time leading to severe disability and
death
Mesothelioma:
It may be 30-50
years from the initial exposure to the first appearance of
symptoms. Pleural
mesothelioma usually produces chest pain
and shortness of breath. Mesothelioma of the peritoneum may
cause an intestinal obstruction, which results in abdominal
pain, vomiting and weight loss.
Pleural Mesothelioma
~ chest pain
~ shortness of breath
~ tightness in chest
~ pleural effusion (excessive fluid between the layers of
the pleura)
~ symptoms worsen over time leading to severe disability and
death
Peritonial
Mesothelioma
~ abdominal pain
~ vomiting
~ weight loss
Pericardial Mesothelioma
~ shortness of breath
~ chest pains
~ persistent coughing
~ palpitations.
Mesothelioma deaths are
on the rise although the use of asbestos has declined over
the past 25 years. The number of deaths continue to rise despite
the introduction of protective clothing and other safety measures.
However, because there can be a time lag of upto 50 + years
between first exposure to asbestos and the development of
mesothelioma and asbestosis, the symptoms become evident when
the disease is at an advanced stage, and very little can be
done to cure it. As a result mesothelioma and
asbestosis have become highly important health and safety
issues that everyone in business, governments, and corporations
need to address.
Both mesothelioma and asbestosis tend to
develop in people who have experienced intense asbestos
exposure. Sadly , once contracted, neither asbestosis
nor mesothelioma can be reversed. The disease progresses
even after direct exposure is discontinued.
Silicosis, is caused by inhalation of silica,
affects people who work with sandstone, slate, granite
etc. It has been estimated that about 3 million workers
in the US have been exposed to silica dust. The acute
form of silicosis, tends to develop after a few months
of intensive exposure to silica - and it can lead to death
in under a year.
Diffuse Pleural Thickening: This
condition, which can develop following even a brief period
of exposure to asbestos, shows no obvious symptoms, and is
normally detected only when a chest x-ray is conducted for
another purpose.
However, in some cases of advanced pleural thickening the
inability of the lungs to expand may cause:
~ shortness of breath.
Byssinosis: Caused by inhaling
dust and fibers from hemp, flax and cotton processing, byssinosis
is a condition that has now become infrequent in the developed
countries, but is prevalent in countries, like India, where
textile is produced from natural fibres like cotton and hemp.
Initially, the symptoms are apparent at the start of the work
week and diminish over the weekend, after ceasing work. But
as the condition intensifies, so do the symptoms:
~ shortness of breath, which may become a chronic
condition
~ tightness of the chest
~ in rare cases, extensive lung damage can lead to respiratory
failure
Coal Worker’s Pneumconiosis :
In its simple form pneumcontiosis (PMF) produces no symptoms
initially. However, as it develops, breathing difficulties
appear, and become so severe that respiratory failure may
take place.
During progression of this disease the symptons include the
following:
~coughing up black sputum
~shortness of breath on exertion
Silicosis: The symptoms of
both chronic and acute silicosis are the same, although they
develop over different time periods. They include:
