Asbestos Exposure and Pleural Mesothelioma

Green Living: Improving Health Today and Tomorrow

Much attention has been paid in recent years to what seems to be a growing environmental conscience in the United States. Going green used to be considered expensive and a luxury for those who could afford the trend. Now it appears that we are learning that not only is adopting more environmentally conscious attitudes good for our economic situation, but also our….health? Yes, if we dig a bit deeper we can see that dirty industries and backwards policy is actually harming the health of the earth for our children and the health of her inhabitants today.

How Does Environmental Policy Affect Public Health?

There are two levels of health consequences associated with dirty industry, both direct and indirect. The direct consequences are examples like increased asthma rates in areas with high smog indices. Chlorofluorocarbon release into the atmosphere has shown to decrease the filter of direct sunlight on the planet, resulting in more concentrated ultraviolet light reaching the surface of the earth. Perhaps it is no surprise then that in countries with depleted atmospheric gas, skin cancer rates are among the highest in the world.

The indirect health consequences are harder to see immediately, but closer examination reveals that these are, in fact, perhaps the most hazardous. Bi-products of dirty and backwards industries, such as coal and oil processing, include cancer causing substances like asbestos and benzene. A U.K. study conducted in 2002 indicated that coal and oil industry workers are at a much higher risk of developing pleural mesothelioma (associated with asbestos exposure) and leukemia (traced to benzene and heavy-metal exposure).  Dr. Valerie Rusch among many other doctors who specialize in this area understand that these are substances that can be directly traced to antiquated pre-regulation equipment in industries whose environmental hazards are even more inherent.

Can we really afford to continue on the path we were on before? Investment in clean industry means not a healthier planet for our children and grandchildren, but also a healthier place for us to live today.

--June 25, 2009 Written by Bill Hawthorne with the maacenter

Editor's Note:

Surprisingly, many people in North America have a nonchalant attitude towards the dangers of asbestos;  either they are uninformed or believe our own governments' propaganda, big-business, and the like.  The bottom line is that Mesothelioma is a silent killer - the symptoms do not show up for 20 - 30 years.  There is no safe level of exposure (one fibre is sufficient), detection is almost impossible and there is no cure (although the medical community continues to find improvements).  When an individual is diagnosed with Mesothelioma, he or she is given a death sentence;  the end will be painful and drawn out.

If you are a parent or teacher then you owe it to your children / students to educate yourself on the dangers with hazardous substances (not just asbestos) and also the dangers within industrial workplaces;  When you have learned everything you can then transfer that knowledge to your students and/or children.  Make sure they truly understand workplace dangers and their rights as a worker.   And make sure you understand what their summer student job(s) are about.   Even if your students / children have the knowledge, don't assume they have the corresponding wisdom.  Too many kids are trusting in their employers (and they shouldn't be).  It has been demonstrated time and again that big business will not concern themselves with the health of their employees.  It's a pretty sad state of affairs.

I would like to dedicate this post to my dearly departed brother.
Also please read Canadian Asbestos:  A Global Concern

Thank you
Steve Auger