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What Is
Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma
the medical name for cancer of the lung or the abdomen
lining, and is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos
is a type of building material used in thermal insulation products
and ceiling tiles. Asbestos usage peaked during the 1950s - 1970s,
but during the late 1960s,
concerns over the health consequences of asbestos exposure began to
arise, thereby decreasing the amount of asbestos manufactured over
the following two decades. But even though new measures where brought
in to get rid of it, many schools and public buildings still contain
asbestos.
Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can
remain suspended in the air for a long time. These fibers, when breathed
into the body, are toxic. The people most at risk are :- People working
in factories that manufacture asbestos are likely
to have a high exposure.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until between twenty and fifty
years after exposure, which explains why so many new cases of this
form of cancer are coming to light now. Many people who haven't been
in contact with asbestos for decades, are now showing symptoms of
this dreadful disease. As with many forms of cancer, mesothelioma
can spread rapidly. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing,
loss of weight, and chest pains. |
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