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Mesothelioma Strikes 40 Years Later
Mesothelioma Into PerspectivePutting Mesothelioma Into Perspective Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos. Of ..... Mesothelioma - Cancer That Strikes 40 Years Later
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant
(cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective
sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people
who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled
asbestos particles.
In his article called "Knee Deep in Asbestos", freelance writer
Phil Jones relates how when he was a teenager he worked for a
brief time in an asbestos mine in the Yukon. One of the
features of daily life was the constant presence of asbestos
dust in the air. As Jones writes,
"There were employees that worked in the mill whose sole job
was to sweep up the dust that fell on the floor. There was so
much of it that this was a constant ongoing job. The asbestos
dust in the mill actually fell almost like snow and covered the
floor completely. Without sweepers there would probably have
been several inches of asbestos dust on the floor within an
hour or so. In fact, I remember seeing sweepers go by pushing
their wide brooms and the new dust settling onto the floor
behind them as they walked."
This story illustrates a number of the more sinister aspects of
the whole mesothelioma story.
First, over the course of many decades, countless workers were
placed in work environments where they were exposed to high
levels of asbestos fibre with little protection. Their exposure
to asbestos fibres was constant and often took place over a very
long period of time - in most cases, over many years.
Second, the owners and managers of these work places were often
either unaware of the risk of mesothelioma, or they actively
attempted to hide or cover up those risks.
Third, since the effects of exposure to asbestos fibre often do
not become apparent for 30 or 40 years after prolonged exposure,
there often appeared to be no immediate health risk in these
work environments. This made it very difficult for workers or
their representatives to make a convincing case that worker
health was being sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed.
For more information about mesothelioma, the causes of
mesothelioma, the effects of mesothelioma, and the legal
courses of action open to mesothelioma victims, see the link
below.
About The Author: Rick Hendershot is a writer, online
publisher, and creator of the Linknet Publishing Network. see
http://www.sbo-linknet.com/products/article-program.shtml For
mesothelioma information see Mesothelioma Advisors -
http://www.mesotheliomaadvisors.com
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