We’ve done some research and selected five websites that contain more specialized asbestos exposure information that may be useful for those wondering if they are being, or have been exposed to asbestos in their specific home, workplace, school, or city. (more…)

With all the recent news about how the U.S. Geological Survey found a bunch of naturally occurring asbestos in El Dorado Hills, California playgrounds (see here: http://www.asbestosnews.com/news/asbestos_dangers.html), I thought I’d post some information about precautions people who live near naturally occurring asbestos deposits can take to minimize their chances of inhaling asbestos. These tips will also help you keep your house free of the regular dust that can trigger allergies.

Here are some helpful tips from the California Air Resource Board:

• Pave unpaved roads, walkways, or driveways that contain ultramafic or serpentine rock – A lot of dust is created and kicked up from unpaved surfaces that get a lot of traffic.

• Cover crushed ultramafic or serpentine rock on your property with soil – This will trap dust and fibers that could potentially disperse into the air.

• Use washable area rugs – Wash them from time to time.

• Dust with a wet rag – Dry dusters will simply scatter the dust into the air

• Have guests and family members remove their shoes before entering your home – Asbestos fiber tracking is one of the major asbestos fiber entry routes.

• Keep doors and windows closed on windy days – Especially when nearby asbestos rocks are disturbed, such as during construction.

• Use a vacuum with a high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) – These filters can remove smaller particles from the air that gets exhausted back into the atmosphere. Regular vacuum cleaners may simply pull asbestos particles out of the carpet and put them in the air.

You should also consider having your home tested by a qualified expert if you are concerned about asbestos in your home. Licensed professionals use special equipment specially designed for asbestos removal. They can also check and see if your house builder used asbestos insulation, or any other asbestos building materials.

You can locate an asbestos removal professional near you in the Blue Book of Building and Construction.
The California Air Resources Board has more information about naturally occurring asbestos.

There are always people and organizations researching the treatment and prevention of all types of cancer, including mesothelioma. Here’s an update on the research. There seem to be some promising treatments on the way.

New Drugs

Chemotherapy drugs have not been as effective against advanced mesothelioma as we have hoped. Several new drugs are being studied. Among them are:

Anti-growth factor drugs – These drugs aim to kill cancer cells by depriving them of blood. A drug of this type that is currently available is Bevacizumab (Avastin). It is approved for the treatment of colorectal cancer, and is being tested for effectiveness in combating mesothelioma.

Anti-angiogenesis drugs – These drugs aim to hinder cancer cells’ production of substances that stimulate their growth. Erlotinib (Tarceva) is one such drug

For information on clinical trials for Avastin and Tarceva for the treatment of mesothelioma, click here.

Belinostat (PXD101) – This drug represents a new “class of anti-cancer therapeutics that target HDAC enzymes that have been shown to: arrest growth of cancer cells (including drug resistant subtypes); induce … programmed cell death; promote differentiation, inhibit angiogenesis; and sensitize cancer cells to overcome drug resistance when used in combination with other anti-cancer agents,” according to the drug maker’s press release.

This drug has showed promising results in preliminary studies and will continue to be tested. More details here.

Gene Therapy – In this approach, special lab-modified viruses are injected into the space between the pleural mesothelioma and the chest cavity lining. The viruses then attack the mesothelioma cells and inject a gene into them that may help the body’s immune system recognize the cells as a threat and attack them.

For information on gene therapy clinical trials, cick here.

Occupational asbestos exposure is the cause of the vast majory of mesothelioma cases. Workers in different industries, with different occupations have different levels of risks. Asbestos insulation workers for example are almost 100 times more likely to contract mesothelioma than the average person, while a smelter worker is about 5 times more likely. The following is a list of high-risk occupations and industries that seem to cause a large number of mesothelioma cases in their workers:

Manufacturing

The manufacture of various products containing asbestos, or products whose manufacture requires the use of equipment that contains asbestos also account for a disproportionate number of mesothelioma cases among workers. Those who work in the manufacturing of the following products are at the greatest risk:

• Building materials
• Insulation
• Roofing
• Synthetic rubber
• Pharmaceuticals
• Paints
• Plastics

Other Industries and Occupations

Not only workers in manufacturing are exposed to asbestos, however. The following occupations and industries also put their workers at a high risk of exposure and the resulting mesothelioma:

• Tile cutting, working
• Maritime working
• Shipyard working, ship building
• Plumbing
• Roofing
• Railway working
• Construction working, carpentry, and contracting
• Building inspection
• Mining
• Vehicle repair
• Welding
• Plastering
• Oil refinery
• Power plant
• Steel and iron mill
• Bricklaying
• Furnace working

There is no consensus on the details regarding the exact mechanisms by which asbestos causes mesothelioma. There is, however, a general knowledge about the processes involved.

The lungs, heart, and some abdominal organs are each surrounded by a mesothelium. The one that surrounds the lungs is called the pleural mesothelium, the one that surrounds the abdominal organs is called the peritoneal mesothelium, and the one that surrounds the heart is called the pericardial mesothelium. It is these linings (but most commonly the pleural one) that are affected by mesothelioma.

How Asbestos Enters the Body

As asbestos crumbles, tiny asbestos fibers are released. The inhalation of these fibers is far and away the most common cause of mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can work their way through the smallest of the lungs’ passages and become imbedded in the pleural mesothelium.

What Happens Then?

The body’s natural reaction to asbestos fibers is to release a fluid intended to loosen the fibers so that they can be expelled by coughing. But the fibers are tenacious, and the body’s attempts to expel them are usually ineffective.

The area around the asbestos fibers becomes irritated and inflamed. The fluid continues to be secreted, and over time, it builds up in the pleural cavity - the space between the pleural mesothelium, and the lining around the chest cavity. These effects cause the typical mesothelioma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

What about the cancer?

It is not well understood how exactly asbestos triggers malignant cell production. We do know however, that the cancer is likely either caused by direct interaction with the asbestos fibers, or by prolonged exposure to toxins that may develop in the mesothelium in the presence of asbestos. Either way, the production of cytokines - substances that control various body processes - is induced, which triggers mesothelial cell production. It is this process that is altered by the above-mentioned toxins or the asbestos fibers themselves. This alteration results in the development of malignant cells.

What about peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma?

No one is sure how these other more rare forms of mesothelioma are caused, though many suspect it is transported from the pleural mesothelium to the peritoneal mesothelium by the lymphatic system, or ingestion, and to the pericardial mesothelium by the lymphatic system, or proximity.