Most people associate asbestos use with construction materials. Before it was largely banned from use in new products back in the 1980s, asbestos could be found in any product or component that required protection from heat, friction or fire. That included many...
Asbestos-related Diseases
Why are cancer rates higher in African-Americans?
Historically, Black Americans have been diagnosed with certain kinds of cancers more often than whites, including lung cancer. While there has been progress in “closing the gap” over the years, the disparity remains. Between 2015-2016, for example, cancer deaths among...
The devastating ‘third wave’ of deadly asbestos diseases
Many people associate asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, with older generations. This is misguided. While the use of asbestos has dropped dramatically since the 1970s, it is still out there – and remains dangerous. Asbestos continues to tear apart the...
Tips for dealing with asbestos in a home
The presence of asbestos in a home or work facility puts people at risk for diseases such as mesothelioma. In fact, about 80% of those with this deadly form of cancer contracted this condition through exposure to asbestos. Asbestos in homes is not as widely publicized...
What careers are most at risk regarding asbestos?
The dangers related to asbestos are well-known in the United States, and as a result companies are slowly phasing out asbestos use in many industries. However, depending on where you work, your exposure risk may still be very high. For example, army veterans and...
Firefighters face significant risk of mesothelioma
Firefighter exposure to asbestos continues, even though laws have limited many of its uses due to the substance's known carcinogenic qualities. According to the National Cancer Institute, the asbestos used in buildings pre-legislation can harm rescue workers as the...
Recognizing asbestos-related pleurisy
Asbestos exposure remains a veritable "bogeyman" to many people in St. Louis. This is likely because the condition most commonly associated with it is cancer. Many of those exposed to asbestos may feel as though they were able to dodge a significant bullet if they do...
Construction workers at high risk for developing asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic respiratory disease in which you develop permanent scarring of your lung tissues. Unlike mesothelioma, asbestosis is not itself a cancer. Nevertheless it can lead to a variety of malignant conditions, including mesothelioma. As a construction...
Is it possible to catch mesothelioma early?
Mesothelioma is an often aggressive form of cancer that affects lung, stomach or heart tissue. Like all types of cancer, early detection of mesothelioma greatly increases a person’s chances of recovering completely. Unfortunately, though, mesothelioma typically has a...
What is obliterative bronchiolitis?
Missouri workers like you know that working with asbestos is dangerous. Unfortunately, there are still some industries in the state that use asbestos. Also, many older buildings used asbestos in the construction. This means you may face exposure without even knowing...