Big industry for years as that asbestos was safe and not a hazard to human life, and he only after years of research - and thousands of deaths - that the true dangers of asbestos exposure became clear. The Centers for Disease Control reports that despite efforts to reduce exposure to asbestos rates, more people, especially the traders, continue to develop health problems associated with hazardous fibers.
Doctors with the National Institute for Safety and Health conducted their research with more than 38 years of data. These data showed that the number of premature deaths, or deaths occurring before the age of 65, of asbestos-related diseases occur at a high rate now and will continue to increase in the coming years. The increase will be more apparent than the latency period between exposure and the onset of asbestos disease is between 20 to 50 years. Many people exposed to asbestos in their teens and twenties in the 50s and 60s will now develop symptoms. Disease take so long to have their full impact that death and disease will continue to grow.
Asbestos is an inorganic fiber of natural origin which has been extracted and widely used in insulation and other uses in a wide range of products for its heat resistance. When asbestos fibers are inhaled in bulk, they "hang" the lung lining and other internal organs, which can lead to debilitating and often terminal illness. The terminal lung cancer mesothelioma is a major killer, with most patients diagnosed with only a few months to a year to live.
The study of the CDC, nearly 13% of victims who died of asbestosis were traders between the ages of 25 and 64. In fact, traders and construction workers have represented greater percentage of deaths related to asbestos. Although many uses of asbestos have been banned since the 1980s, researchers still believe there are 1.3 million construction workers exposed to asbestos each year through the demolition of buildings or works renovation.
Contrary to popular belief, asbestos is still used by some industries today. In their study, the CDC said that more than 2,000 tons of asbestos was used in the manufacture in the United States in 06 alone, and an unknown amount was imported. In addition, asbestos remains in the building materials in many homes and buildings that were built before 1970.
The study also cited other top industries where high levels of related diseases to asbestos among workers were noted, including shipbuilding and repair, military, and automotive maintenance. The researchers call for continued efforts to spread awareness of the dangers of asbestos. Since many symptoms of asbestos-related diseases are similar to other common diseases and cancer not related to asbestos lung, health experts recommend the use of X-ray chest CT imaging and biopsy to diagnose and screen patients who may have been exposed to asbestos at work or at home.
