Government Agency Warns of Naturally Occurring Asbestos as Pollutant

Officials with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently published a study in the October 2008 issue of Chemical Science about naturally occurring asbestos (NOA), which is becoming more of a threat and an increasing pollutant within the environment.

According to researchers from the organization, naturally occurring asbestos is the name that describes “the silicate minerals serpentine and amphibole” that can form extremely thin crystals in patterns similar to that of cotton or silk, with extreme parallel alignment and, when crushed or broken, can cause asbestosis among individuals who inhale the particles.

What is Asbestosis?
Asbestosis occurs when the lungs have been exposed to asbestos fibers and the lungs react by becoming chronically inflamed as cancerous cells begin to form on the protective lining of the body’s internal organs, especially within the lungs. Signs and symptoms of asbestosis can be difficult to spot and are often misdiagnosed for other similar conditions, which is why it is important for an individual who may have been exposed to naturally occurring asbestos to seek medical attention immediately. The Mayo Clinic has cited several signs to watch for that may be indicators of asbestosis, these include:
* coughing
* chest pain
* finger clubbing in some cases, which is swelling of tissues beneath the fingernail
* decreased tolerance for physical activity
* shortness of breath, both during periods of exertion and periods of rest

Unfortunately asbestosis symptoms do not become apparent for up to 20 to 30 years after initial exposure, which can often be too late for many victims to find adequate assistance in reversing the scarring and damage done within the lungs from asbestos fibers.

Asbestos Risks and Dangers

Naturally occurring asbestos may not pose a threat to all individuals who come in contact with it, according to the Chemical Science article, which explained that the “nature of the soil and local climate” also play an important role in exposure. Common erosion may disturb asbestos particles and such activities include:

* mining
* quarrying
* excavation for construction
* farming
* landscaping
* gardening

The researchers suggest that once NOA is discovered, a risk assessment of exposure to a community must be determined, in which case the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will likely need to be alerted, as they are the regulatory body responsible for removal and regulation of asbestos materials.

However, it is important for those who have worked with or been exposed to asbestos to understand the following risks, which may increase the severity of an asbestos case or put others at risk:

* exposure times will have an effect on asbestosis or mesothelioma development, although individuals with minimum exposure have the same asbestos risks
* symptoms of asbestos are often delayed, which is why initial exposure should not be overlooked
* family members are also at risk if clothing, shoes covered is asbestos are brought into the house for others to inhale, which is known as paraoccupational exposure
* employees who have worked with shipbuilding, mining, milling, construction, brake repair, demolition, drywall and firefighters may all be at risk for potential exposure to asbestos and should consult a medical professional as a safety precaution

Finding Mesothelioma Help

Once an individual becomes diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, they can quickly become overwhelmed with what to do and how to seek the appropriate medical and legal counsel to better their situation as soon as possible. It is important that an individual become educated on their condition and to speak openly with a knowledgeable medical professional about any and all treatments, including those treatments being tested as part of mesothelioma clinical trials, as any new type of treatment may be successful in postponing the unfortunate “incurable” condition.
In addition to a patient arming themselves with mesothelioma information and educational materials and receiving medical assistance, they may also find it an option to consult an experienced medical law firm that can locate a specialized mesothelioma lawyer. Developing a mesothelioma lawsuit is a way of retrieving monetary compensation to pay for the medical bills as well as pain and damages that have occurred against a victim diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.

You may have recently found out that you or your loved one has mesothelioma, a kind of cancer that is acquired through the exposure to asbestos. When you inhaled asbestos fibers and it enters your lungs, it tears out the lung tissues and causes the growth of cancer cells. Some people may link smoking with mesothelioma but there really is no direct cause and effect relationship that exists between the two. What you should remember is that it may make your situation worse but it may not actually cause it. If you have this kind of disease, you should already engage in treatments and other medical sessions that would help you recover from it. You may also consider having a mesothelioma lawyer since the group that may have cause your exposure to asbestos may offer you settlement fees and this may be a big help in paying all your medical bills. If you want to get a bigger amount of the settlement fee, you should be able to make your case stronger. You can do this through hiring a mesothelioma lawyer. With the use of the expertise and technical knowledge of a mesothelioma lawyer, you may make your case stronger and get a bigger amount from the company. Although the claims may vary from one situation to the other, you should also know that not all mesothelioma lawyers may help you out since there is a needed level of experience before a lawyer can make your case win. Also, you should consider that the generalized lawyers may not know other technical aspects of a mesothelioma case. Thus, it is still better that you hire a specialized mesothelioma lawyer to ensure that he is focused on your case and he knows what actions should be done best. With the specialized and experienced mesothelioma lawyer, you can feel more assured that he already had other experiences with the case so he already have an idea on what way should be done to make the case more favorable for you. There are many mesothelioma lawyers that can handle your case. One individual may have an advantage over the other. You must then assure that you have checked out the qualifications of as many mesothelioma lawyers as possible. This is important so that you can select the one that can give you the best service. You will also have to check if you can talk to the mesothelioma lawyer that you are considering because a constant communication and understanding would be needed to ensure that both of you know what the goal of the case is. When the mesothelioma lawyer and the client is able to agree on the goal, the lawyer can now make the necessary actions to achieve the goals and the client would freely cooperate with the process. When these considerations are kept in mind, having the right mesothelioma lawyer handling your case would then be an easy task. You will have to prepare for the case so that you will get the results that you need.