the use of asbestos in the United States has decreased dramatically in recent decades, but the toxicity it left behind still rages, demanding more vigilance today.
"Obviously, people still get sick from being exposed to asbestos," said Ken Rosenman, MD, Division of Professional chef and Environmental Medicine of the State University of Michigan . "We're doing a better job of controlling the current exhibition, but we must remain vigilant. Asbestos was once a useful product. That is why it has been used so much, but we are still paying the price for it. "
Inhalation or ingestion of microscopic asbestos fibers can cause a variety of serious diseases, including lung cancer, asbestosis or mesothelioma. The latency of mesothelioma can vary from 10 to 50 years.
These diseases are due to the need of the national awareness week to asbestos, which begins today. because asbestos is not banned in the United States, we need to emphasize the importance of protecting the public against this mineral.
Number of mesothelioma Diagnosing steady
the use of asbestos in the United States peaked at 803,000 tonnes in 1973. regular consumption fell ?? to ?? 1,180 tonnes in 2011 as the dangers of the product has become known, but the number of diagnosed diseases remained remarkably stable and in some cases has risen.
and the problem will not go away from anytime soon.
Although asbestos, by comparison, is barely used today in commercial and residential construction, much of the oldest building remains, making it even more dangerous as that it ages and becomes more brittle.
Much of the exhibition today comes from renovations or abusive demolition of older structures, not manufacturing new products. Asbestos fibers, once so coveted for insulation, reinforcement and heat resistance, can still be found on a number of older products.
An estimated 3,000 people are still diagnosed each year with mesothelioma in the United States. An estimated 10,000 people die every year from a disease related to asbestos.
"The data is clear, has not yet reached its peak (with mesothelioma or asbestosis)," Rosenman said last week in an interview with asbestos .com. "We (the US) much used asbestos, so there are still many out there."
Michigan an example to Ban Asbestos
Rosenman need not look far for examples where the lesson to his students in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The state of Michigan is a classic example regarding the constant number of diseases related to asbestos serious in this country.
According to a joint report done by the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, there was always a steady stream of cases of mesothelioma in 1985.
There were between 80 and 140 mesothelioma cases reported each year in Michigan since 1992. There have been over 100 cases in each of the last 10 years in Michigan. And the incidence of asbestosis hospitalizations in the state increased by 72 percent since 00.
"We have banned very few things in this country. It's just not in our culture to prohibit things, "said Rosenman. "Asbestos is limited here. The fact that Canada is mining, which is a big deal. I think this is very important. The issue here is to make people aware of what is out there. "
Rosenman also raised the issue of making victims aware of their asbestos options, especially regarding the remuneration of workers.
" Look at how few people mesothelioma are compensated, "he said." There are about 0 people a year get (mesothelioma) in Michigan, but people who receive workman's comp or sue an asbestos company, there are only a handful "
Cure for mesothelioma. Ban asbestos
Although the medical community is getting better treatment of diseases related to asbestos, there is still no cure for mesothelioma. progress has been made in the diagnosis, in chemotherapy drugs and surgical techniques, but issue of handling millions of tons of asbestos in products still there remains a dilemma.
no one is yet predicting a decline of asbestos diseases. IP
"the overall incidence of the disease is not going down," thoracic surgeon Abraham Lebenthal, MD of the VA Boston Healthcare System, said Asbestos.com. "We may have different groups of people getting more or less, but the end of the day, the numbers are to stay where they were."
Awareness Week asbestos actually started as National Asbestos Awareness Day in 05, providing an opportunity to raise awareness of the global problems caused by asbestos.
She was born in the US with Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.) And Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). The developer is now Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) As a way to honor the victims of asbestos in Libby, Montana, which has become synonymous with the worst exposure to asbestos at Community level in American history.
"At this point, it is important to remain vigilant to minimize exposure," said Rosenman. "Progress has been made but we must do better."
