Mesothelioma has long been seen as the most common type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. However, other cancers exist as well. A new Italian study has shown that there is even more to worry about, specifically because of asbestos-related kidney cancer.
The study was official published on May 26, 2016 in La Medicine Del Lavoro. The study was conducted by researchers S.M. Candura and 4 others. The report ‘Renal Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma After Occupation Asbestos Exposure: Case Report’ looked at the case of a 76-year-old man who was a cement worker, and was exposed to asbestos. The anonymous man complained about pain in his left flank, and he was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma at the Scientific Institute of Pavia in Italy. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. The kidney was removed to stop the spread of cancer, but he died of peritoneal mesothelioma just 14 months afterwards. The report highlighted that similar cases also exist.
“This is the second reported case of association between renal cell carcinoma and peritoneal mesothelioma in the scientific literature. Asbestos might be involved in the causation of both malignancies.”
It is a well known fact that asbestos is carcinogenic. It was used extensively for decades in anything from insulation wrapping to ceiling tiles. Made popular because of its heat resistant properties, it was often used as a form of insulation. Asbestos exposure, however, be that through airborne asbestos fibers or asbestos dust, can lead to a range of conditions, including mesothelioma. Asbestos-related illnesses attack organs’ inner lining, most commonly around the lungs. It has a very long latency period, with many people being asymptomatic for as long as 30 years or more.
There have been numerous asbestos legal cases, in which claims are made that exposure, which happened decades ago, is the root cause of people’s current asbestos cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma. In lawsuits, it is often heard that employers were not aware that asbestos had carcinogenic properties when they should have been, or that they purposefully failed to protect their employees on site despite being aware of the danger. There have been a number of cases in which the family members of people who have died as a result of an asbestos-related illness have started legal proceedings. Similarly, there have been cases where family members developed asbestos cancers because of the fibers that were carried home in the hair and clothes, and on the skin of workers.
The World Health Organization has stated that around 50% of all deaths due to work related cancers are caused by asbestos.
“Currently, about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. Approximately half of the deaths from occupational cancer are estimated to be caused by asbestos. In addition, it is estimated that several thousand deaths annually can be attributed to exposure to asbestos in the home.”
The man in the report from the Italian research has already passed away. However, it is not clear whether or not his family will start legal proceedings and seek compensation. Nevertheless, the case is significant because extensive research continues to be conducted into just how asbestos impacts the health of those who have been exposed to it. Furthermore, some sectors continue to use asbestos, including in automotive brakes, and it remains a popular form of insulation in various third world countries, where it has not yet been banned or even regulated.
Another significant area of concern is that many older buildings that are in use today continue to have asbestos in them. This, in turn, means that the next generation can also still be exposed to asbestos. Once it was discovered that asbestos was strongly linked to various cancers, authorities proceeded to remove as much of it as possible. However, this quickly proved to be an impossible task, not in the least because it is not known where the asbestos is. Hence, the new focus is now on not disturbing any asbestos, as it is safe so long as it is properly contained. Insulation in old buildings, for instance, is generally out of the way of all forms of human contact and is therefore not deemed as harmful.
However, these buildings are often demolished or renovated, and this means that the asbestos can not only be disturbed, but that both workers and the general public could be exposed to it. As a result, an entire new industry has been formed, being one that concerns itself with identifying asbestos, and putting steps in place to remove it safely cheap levitra. Unfortunately, the protocols they have set in place are often not properly followed and this is dangerous to both workers and passersby.
“The professional should have special training, such as that required by many states for asbestos worker certification. He/she should have special equipment, such as vacuum machines with very fine filters. Such training and equipment are expensive and not usually practical for homeowners.”
