Government Organization Alerts Americans of Naturally Occurring Asbestos Pollutant

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) has recently been deemed a dangerous pollutant, according to a study published in an October 2008 issue of Chemical Science and conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.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?

When the lining of the lungs becomes inflamed asbestosis is occurring; it can also attack the lining of the internal organs. It is often difficult to determine asbestosis signs and symptoms, which is why it’s important to locate a medical professional immediately if asbestos exposure may have occurred. Signs and symptoms of asbestosis include the following, according to the Mayo Clinic:

* 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.

It may also be necessary for a mesothelioma patient to contact a mesothelioma attorney.

Creating a mesothelioma lawsuit can earn monetary compensation to pay for costly bills associated with mesothelioma cancer.

About the Author

Learn more about asbestos fibers and how they can expose victims to developing mesothelioma cancer by visiting http://www.mesothelioma-law-now.com or http://www.LegalView.com/ . Additionally, individuals can learn about other legal topics such as how to obtain a truck accident attorney or overcoming Avandia risks.

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain during pregnancy can also indicate a miscarriage. A miscarriage is usually signaled by bleeding in your vagina, followed by cramping. The cramps can last between several hours and several days.Tighten the deep abdominal muscle, making it go firm and taut. You should feel a tightening under your fingers, and the abdominal muscle drawing towards your lower spine. It may flatten your lower tummy area.

Often, abdominal wall pain may be the presenting feature in a patient who has had lower back pain and stiffness for some time. He may have gotten used to these lower back symptoms and a careful history for such must be uncovered to get to the root of the abdominal wall symptoms.

Symptoms of mesothelioma does not always appear right away. It can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after the exposure to surface. Shortness of breath, pain in the chest and coughing due to fluid in the pleural space (in between the two pleural membranes)are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

In all types of malignant mesothelioma, generalized symptoms such as fever, unexplained weight loss and fatigue are usually present. Patients with advanced mesothelioma are usually offered palliative treatment to reduce the discomfort from their symptoms. Pleural or abdominal fluid collections may be drained, and substances that prevent further formation and collection of fluid may be placed in the pleural or abdominal cavities.

Endometriosis is characterized by a presence of endometrial tissue, which is normally located within the uterus, outside this organ. When these tissues grow outside the uterus, they form lumps or masses that resemble endometrium, the thin lining found in the uterus.

The appendectomy is a method of surgery. Generally antibiotics given to prevent or treat infection. A more extensive surgery is applied when a ruptured appendix blows up. People with appendicitis end up with an abdominal abscess or pus pocket. Sometimes bleeding, infection or allergic reaction are due to the anesthesia.

Abdominal pain can be sharp, dull, stabbing, cramplike, knifelike, twisting, or boring. Many other types of pain are possible. The causes of abdominal pain depend on sex and age of the patient. Abdominal pain may be minor and of no great significance, or it can reflect a major problem involving one of the organs in the abdomen. A woman may have a twisted ovarian cyst while a man may have testicular torsion with a twisted testis.

Chances are if you have this kind of pregnancy along with the abdominal cramps you will also be suffering from chills, fever and spotting. In case this condition is diagnosed within a few weeks, it could be dangerous as the fallopian tubes can rupture. Abdominal cramps, pain and tenderness accompanied by lower back pain, dizziness and shoulder pain also point towards an Ectopic pregnancy. You must contact your physician right away if any of these symptoms persist during your early pregnancy.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms may include bowel obstruction; blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. Read about herbal supplements and also read about breast enlargement and breast enhancement


About the Author

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Mesothelioma Pain and Problems

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused due to exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma mainly affects the mesothelium which is a protective lining covering all internal organs of the body. Mostly, it originates in the pleura, which is the between the outer part of the lungs & the chest cavity. Mesothelioma may also attack in or the lining of abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the sac which surrounds heart (that is, pericardium). It has been observed that person having Mesothelioma must have worked on a job where he may have inhaled asbestos particulates, or he might have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in any other way. It might be caused just by washing cloths of some family member handling asbestos regularly. But, unlike lung and oral cancer, there exists no link between mesothelioma & smoking. It is an unbelievable fact that an exposure of 1 or 2 months could result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 yrs later and for some, as much as seventy years later. People exposed in the 1960s and ’70s are now diagnosed of mesothelioma due to the long latency of asbestos deposit. On suffering from Mesothelioma, patient may have breathlessness, slight pain in the chest and cough, while peritoneal mesothelioma causes patient to lose weight and pain in the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma causes obstruction in bowel-area, abnormal blood clotting, anemia, and may also cause fever. In case the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it may cause pain, troublesome swallowing, or swelling in neck and face. Mesothelioma can only be diagnosed from biopsy by pathological examination If further examination is warranted, more tests may be done. Mesothelioma has three kinds of treatments. First one involves surgery, that is, to take out the cancer. Secondly, the deadly radiation therapy to kill cancer causing cells. The third is the chemotherapy, in which drugs are inserted in body to fight cancer.

About the Author

I am a health care professional who writes about mesothelioma at Mesothelioma Straight. My latest post is here: Mesothelioma Details and Findings

ASBESTOS Q & A ASBESTOS Faqs ASBESTOS Questions and Answers Asbestos Information Asbestosis Info Mesothelioma Texas Attorneys

  1. What is asbestos?
    • Chrysotile, or white asbestos;
    • Crocidolite, or blue asbestos;
    • Amosite, which usually has brown fibers; and
    • Anthophyllite, which usually has gray fibers.
  2. Asbestos” is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as bundles of fibers which can be separated into thin threads. These fibers are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many industries. Four types of asbestos have been used commercially:

    Chrysotile asbestos, with its curly fibers, is in the serpentine family of minerals. The other types of asbestos, which all have rod-like fibers, are known as amphiboles.

    Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems.

    Comment: Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to all types of asbestos.

  3. How is asbestos used?

    Asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America beginning in the late 1800s. Its use increased greatly during World War II. Since then, it has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industry has used it 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. Some of them are listed below:

    • 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, and residential and industrial building materials;
    • Friction products, such as clutch facings, brake linings for automobiles, gaskets, and industrial friction materials;
    • Products containing asbestos paper, such as table pads and heat-protective mats, heat and electrical wire insulation, industrial filters for beverages, and underlying material for sheet flooring;
    • Asbestos textile products, such as packing components, roofing materials, and heat- and fire-resistant fabrics (including blankets and curtains); and
    • Other products, including ceiling and floor tile; gaskets and packings; paints, coatings, and adhesives; caulking and patching tape; artificial ashes and embers for use in gas-fired fireplaces; plastics; vermiculite-containing consumer garden products; and some talc-containing crayons.

    In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products could be released into the environment during use. 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 to occupants by removing the asbestos or encasing it. In June 2000, the CPSC concluded that the risk of children’s exposure to asbestos fibers in crayons was extremely low. However, the U.S. manufacturers of these crayons agreed to reformulate their products within a year. In August 2000, the EPA recommended that consumers reduce possible asbestos exposure from vermiculite-containing garden products by limiting the amount of dust produced during use. The EPA suggested that consumers use vermiculite outdoors or in a well-ventilated area; keep vermiculite damp while using it; avoid bringing dust from vermiculite use into the home on clothing; and use premixed potting soil, which is less likely to generate dust.

    The regulations described above and other actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in U.S. use of asbestos: Domestic consumption of asbestos amounted to about 719,000 metric tons in 1973, but it had dropped to about 9,000 metric tons by 2002. Asbestos is currently used most frequently in gaskets and in roofing and friction products.

  4. What are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos?

    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;
    • Lung cancer;
    • Mesothelioma-a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen; and
    • Other cancers, such as those of the larynx, oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney.
  5. Who is at risk?

    Nearly everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their life. However, most people do not become ill from their exposure. People who become ill from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact.

    Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos. Health hazards from asbestos fibers have been recognized in workers exposed in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, brake repair, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, and firefighters also may be exposed to asbestos fibers. As a result of Government regulations and improved work practices, today’s workers (those without previous exposure) are likely to face smaller risks than did those exposed in the past.

    Although it is known that the risk to workers increases with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only brief exposures. Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear.

    There is some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. This risk is thought to result from exposure to asbestos fibers brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of workers. This type of exposure is called paraoccupational exposure. To decrease these exposures, people exposed to asbestos at work are required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

  6. How great is the risk?

    Not all workers exposed to asbestos will develop diseases related to their exposure. The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases varies with the type of industry in which the exposure occurred and with the extent of the exposure. Asbestos that is bonded into finished products such as walls and tiles poses no risk to health as long as it is not damaged or disturbed (for example, by sawing or drilling) in such a way as to release fibers into the air. When asbestos fibers are set free and inhaled, however, exposed individuals are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.

  7. How does smoking affect risk?

    Many studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. Smokers who are also exposed to asbestos have a greatly increased risk of lung cancer. However, smoking combined with asbestos exposure does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma.

    There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers. People who were exposed to asbestos on the job at any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not smoke. If they smoke, they should stop.

  8. Who needs to be examined?

    Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos fibers on the job or at home via a family contact should inform their physician of their exposure history and any symptoms. Asbestos fibers can be measured in urine, feces, mucus, or material rinsed out of the lungs. A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be recommended. It is important to note that chest x-rays cannot detect asbestos fibers in the lungs, but they can help identify any lung changes resulting from asbestos exposure. Interpretation of the chest x-ray may require the help of a specialist who is experienced in reading x-rays for asbestos-related diseases. Other tests also may be necessary.

    As noted earlier, the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not become apparent for many decades after exposure. If any of the following symptoms develop, a physical examination should be scheduled without delay:

    • Shortness of breath;
    • A cough or a change in cough pattern;
    • Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs;
    • Pain in the chest or abdomen;
    • Difficulty in swallowing or prolonged hoarseness; and/or
    • Significant weight loss.

  9. How can workers protect themselves?

    Employers are required to follow regulations dealing with asbestos exposure on the job that have been issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Federal agency responsible for health and safety regulations in maritime, construction, manufacturing, and service workplaces. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforces regulations related to mine safety. Workers should use all protective equipment provided by their employers and follow recommended work practices and safety procedures. For example, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved respirators that fit properly should be worn by workers when required.

    Workers who are concerned about asbestos exposure in the workplace should discuss the situation with other employees, their employee health and safety representative, and their employers. If necessary, OSHA can provide more information or make an inspection. Regional offices of OSHA are listed in the “United States Government” section of telephone directories’ blue pages (under “Department of Labor”). Regional offices can also be located at http://www.osha-slc.gov/html/RAmap.html on the Internet, or by contacting OSHA’s national office at:

    Organization: Office of Public Affairs
    Occupational Safety and Health Administration
    U.S. Department of Labor
    Address: Room N-3647
    200 Constitution Avenue, NW.
    Washington, DC 20210
    Telephone: 202-693-1999
    1-800-321-6742 (1-800-321-OSHA)
    TTY (for deaf or hard of hearing callers): 1-877-889-5627
    Internet Web site:
    http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/index.html(Worker’s Page)

    Mine workers may contact:

    Organization: Office of Information and Public Affairs Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
    U.S. Department of Labor
    Address: 23rd Floor
    1100 Wilson Boulevard
    Arlington, VA 22209-3939
    Telephone: 202-693-9400
    Internet Web site:

    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is another Federal agency that is concerned with asbestos exposure in the workplace. The Institute conducts asbestos-related research, evaluates work sites for possible health hazards, and makes exposure control recommendations. In addition, NIOSH distributes publications on the health effects of asbestos exposure and can suggest additional sources of information. NIOSH can be contacted at:

    Organization: Information Resources Branch
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
    Address: Robert A. Taft Laboratories
    Mailstop C-18
    4676 Columbia Parkway
    Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
    Telephone: 1-800-356-4674 (1-800-35-NIOSH)
    E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov
    Internet Web site:
    http://www.cdc.gov/niosh

  10. Will the Government provide examinations and treatment for asbestos-related conditions? What about insurance coverage?

    Medical services related to asbestos exposure are available through the Government for certain groups of eligible individuals. In general, individuals must pay for their own medical services unless they are covered by private or Government health insurance. Some people with symptoms of asbestos-related illness may be eligible for Medicare coverage. Information about benefits is available from the Medicare office serving each state. For the telephone number of the nearest office, call toll-free 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE) or visit http://www.medicare.gov on the Internet.

    People with asbestos-related diseases also may qualify for financial help, including medical payments, under state workers’ compensation laws. Because eligibility requirements vary from state to state, workers should contact the workers’ compensation program in their state. Contact information for the workers’ compensation program in each state may be found in the blue pages of a local telephone directory or at http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/owcp/wc.htm on the Internet.

    If exposure occurred during employment with a Federal agency (military or civilian), medical expenses and other compensation may be covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program. Workers who are or were employed in a shipyard by a private employer may be covered under the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Information about eligibility and how to file a claim is available from:

    Organization: Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs
    Employment Standards Administration
    U.S. Department of Labor
    Address: Room S-3229
    200 Constitution Avenue, NW.
    Washington, DC 20210
    Telephone: 202-693-0040
    E-mail: OWCP-Mail@dol-esa.gov
    Internet Web site:
    http://www.dol.gov/esa/owcp_org.htm

    Workers also may wish to contact their international union for information on other sources of medical help and insurance matters.

    Eligible veterans and their dependents may receive health care at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. Treatment for service-connected and nonservice-connected conditions is provided. If the VA cannot provide the necessary medical care, they will arrange for enrolled veterans to receive care in their community. Information about eligibility and benefits is available from the VA Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222-8387 (1-877-222-VETS) or on the VA Web site at http://www.va.gov/health_benefits on the Internet.

  11. Is there a danger of nonoccupational exposure from the environment and products contaminated with asbestos fibers?

    Asbestos is so widely used that the entire population has been exposed to some degree. Air, drinking water, and a variety of consumer products all may contain small amounts of asbestos. In addition, asbestos fibers are released into the environment from natural deposits in the earth and as a result of wear and deterioration of asbestos products. Disease is unlikely to result from a single, high-level exposure, or from a short period of exposure to lower levels of asbestos.

  12. What other organizations offer information related to asbestos exposure?

    The organizations listed below can provide more information about asbestos exposure.

    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is responsible for preventing exposure, adverse human health effects, and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment. The ATSDR provides information about asbestos and where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. The ATSDR Information Center can be reached at:

    Organization: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Toxicology
    Address: Mailstop E-29
    1600 Clifton Road, NE.
    Atlanta, GA 30333
    Telephone: 404-498-0160
    1-888-422-8737 (1-888-42-ATSDR)
    E-mail: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
    Internet Web site:
    http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the general public’s exposure to asbestos in buildings, drinking water, and the environment. The EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Assistance Information Service, or TSCA Hotline, can answer questions about toxic substances, including asbestos. Printed material is available on a number of topics, particularly on controlling asbestos exposure in schools and other buildings. The EPA’s Asbestos and Vermiculite Home Page has suggestions for homeowners who suspect asbestos in their homes, lists laws and regulations applicable to asbestos, and links to the Agency’s findings on asbestos exposure at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Questions may be directed to:

    Organization: TSCA Assistance Information Service
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Address: Mailcode 74080
    401 M Street, SW.
    Washington, DC 20460
    Telephone: 202-554-1404
    TDD: 202-554-0551
    E-mail: tsca-hotline@epa.gov
    Internet Web site:
    http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/

    The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for the regulation of asbestos in consumer products. The CPSC maintains a toll-free information line on the potential hazards of commercial products; the telephone number is 1-800-638-2772. In addition, CPSC provides information about laboratories for asbestos testing, guidelines for repairing and removing asbestos, and general information about asbestos in the home. Publications are available from:

    Organization: Office of Information and Public Affairs
    U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
    Address: 4330 East-West Highway
    Bethesda, MD 20814-4408
    Telephone: 1-800-638-2772
    TTY (for deaf or hard of hearing callers): 1-800-638-8270
    E-mail: info@cpsc.gov
    Internet Web site:
    http://www.cpsc.gov

    Information about asbestos is also available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010916a.html on the Internet. In addition, people can contact their local community or state health or environmental quality department with questions or concerns about asbestos.

    Materials about cancer and how to quit smoking are available by calling the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below).

References:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (September 2001). Asbestos. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/phs9004.html”.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (November 25, 2002). Asbestos: Health Effects of Exposure to Asbestos. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/asbestos_effects.html.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (November 2000). Case Studies in Environmental Medicine: Asbestos Toxicity. Retrieved August 21, 2003, from: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HEC/CSEM/asbestos/index.html.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (September 11, 2001). ToxFAQ’s for Asbestos. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts61.html.

DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA. Etiology of Cancer: Physical Factors. In: Ullrich, R. Cancer principles & practice of oncology. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001.

Dollinger M, Jahan T, Rosenbaum EH, Jablons D. Mesothelioma. In: Dollinger M, Rosenbaum EH, Tempero M, Mulvilhill SJ. Everyone’s guide to cancer therapy: how cancer is diagnosed, treated, and managed day to day. 4th ed. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2002.

Hillerdal G. Mesothelioma: cases associated with non-occupational and low dose exposures. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 1999;56(8):505-13.

National Cancer Institute. Cancer Rates and Risks, 4th ed. NIH Publication No. 96-691, 1996.

National Cancer Institute. What You Need To Know Aboutâ„¢ Cancer of the Larynx. NIH Publication No. 95-1568, 1995.

National Cancer Institute. What You Need To Know Aboutâ„¢ Kidney Cancer. NIH Publication No. 96-1569, 1996.

National Cancer Institute. What You Need To Know Aboutâ„¢ Lung Cancer. Publication No. 99-1553, 1999.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (August 14, 2000). Asbestos. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: www.niehs.nih.gov/external/faq/asbestos.htm.

National Toxicology Program. 10th Report on Carcinogens. Research Triangle Park (NC): National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002. Available online at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/roc/toc10.html.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (June 13, 2000). CPSC Releases Test Results on Crayons. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml00/00123.html.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (January 6, 2000). Asbestos Containing Materials. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6pd/asbestos/asbmatl.htm.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (November 8, 2000). Asbestos in Your Home. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/asbestos.html.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (June 14, 2001). The Asbestos Informer. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: www.epa.gov/region04/air/asbestos/inform.htm.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (August 2000). Sampling and Analysis of Consumer Garden Products That Contain Vermiculite. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: www.epa.gov/asbestos/vermiculite.pdf.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (August 2000). Fact Sheet: Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite. Retrieved June 25, 2003, from www.epa.gov/asbestos/vermfacts.pdf.

U.S. Geological Survey (March 2001). Some Facts About Asbestos. Retrieved March 5, 2003 from: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs012-01/.

Virta, RL. Asbestos. Mineral Commodity Summaries. U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Information. Retrieved March 5, 2003, from: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/asbestos/070303.pdf.

Sources of National Cancer Institute Information:

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