ASBESTOS & ASBESTOSIS: What are the health hazards of asbestos exposure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 26, 2004 -- ASBESTOS & ASBESTOSIS:


What are the health hazards of asbestos exposure?

Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of several serious diseases:

> Asbestosis-a chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage Asbestosis

> Lung cancer;

> Mesothelioma - a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that lines the chest and abdomen Mesothelioma pleural mesothelioma

> Cancer of the larynx, oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney. Asbestos Cancer

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How was asbestos used?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially in North America since the late 1800s, but its use increased greatly during World War II. Since then, asbestos has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industry uses asbestos for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steampipes, and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads. More than 5,000 products contain or have contained asbestos.

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Products containing Asbestos:

cement sheet and pipe products used for water supply and sewage piping
roofing and siding
casings for electrical wires
fire protection material
electrical switchboards and components
clutch facings
brake linings for automobiles
gaskets
heat-protective mats
heat and electrical wire insulation
industrial filters for beverages
material for sheet flooring;
roofing materials

heat- and fire-resistant fabrics (including blankets and curtains)
ceiling and floor tile

In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because these products released excessive amounts of asbestos fibers into the environment. Additionally, asbestos was voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers of electric hair dryers. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; uses established prior to 1989 are still allowed. The EPA has established regulations that require school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos and to eliminate or reduce the exposure by removing the asbestos or by covering it up.

If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma as a result of Asbestos exposure, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO MONETARY COMPENSATION.


more:

http://www.mesothelioma-resources.com/asbestos/