The main purpose of the mesothelium is to produce a lubricating fluid that is released between layers. This fluid provides a slippery and protective surface to allow movement between tissues and organs. For example, it allows the lungs or abdomen to expand and contract smoothly.
When the cells of the mesothelium turn cancerous they become mesothelioma. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. Sites of mesothelioma are typically the pleural cavity (outer lining of the lungs and chest wall) and peritoneal area (abdomen). Rare sites can also include the testis and the heart. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma may include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall), chest wall pain and weight loss. Doctors will do a work-up which may include scans and a biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was used in thousands of industrial and consumer products. Construction materials, automotive parts and household products, such as oven mitts, contained asbestos in the past. Many companies continued using asbestos even after they knew of the potential dangers. As a result, compensation is available for mesothelioma victims, through worker’s compensation, trust funds, and lawsuits.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been found throughout the world. It was once called the “magic mineral” because of its seemingly magical properties. These properties include: it is almost impossible to set it on fire (incombustible), it is nearly impossible to corrode (anti-corrosive), and it is actually composed of fibers so that it can be woven into other materials. It is also relatively inexpensive because it can be taken out of the ground and does not have to be synthesized in a factory.All these properties pale in comparison to the fact that asbestos is toxic and cancer causing for human beings. Asbestos causes mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases.
History of Asbestos
Asbestos has been used since ancient times. Between 2000-3000 BC, embalmed bodies of Egyptian pharaohs were wrapped in asbestos cloth to protect the body from deterioration. In Finland, clay pots dating back to 2500 BC contained asbestos fibers, which are believed to strengthen the pots and make them resistant to fire.Romans were said to have woven asbestos fibers into a cloth-like material that was then sewn into tablecloths and napkins. These cloths were purportedly cleaned by throwing them into a blistering fire, from which they came out miraculously unharmed and essentially whiter than when they went in.
While Greeks and Romans exploited the unique properties of asbestos, they also documented its harmful effects on those who mined the silken material from ancient stone quarries. Greek geographer Strabo noted a “sickness of the lungs” in slaves who wove asbestos into cloth. Roman historian, naturalist and philosopher, Pliny the Elder, wrote of the “disease of slaves,” and actually described the use of thin membrane from the bladder of a goat or lamb used by the slave miners as an early respirator in an attempt to protect them from inhaling the harmful asbestos fibers as they labored.
From Peter the Great to the Industrial Revolution
Over the ages chrysotile (a fibrous variety of the mineral rock that is composed primarily of hydrated magnesium silicate) is the principal source of asbestos. It was mined and used for a variety of purposes. During the reign of Peter the Great, Russia’s tsar from 1682-1725, a purse made of fireproof asbestos was obtained by Benjamin Franklin and is now part of London’s Natural History Museum. During the industrial revolution the use of asbestos blossomed. It started to be used to insulate factories, schools, homes, and ships, and later to make automobile brake and clutch parts, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, textiles, and cement.Types of Asbestos There are different kinds of asbestos. The most common forms are:
- “White” Asbestos (Chrysotile)
- “Brown Asbestos (Amosite)
- “Blue” Asbestos (Riebeckite)
White Asbestos
“White” asbestos or Chrysotile which is obtained from serpentine rocks. Chrysotile is the type most often used in industry. It is more flexible than other types of asbestos and can be spun and woven into fabric. This is the kind of asbestos used in theatre curtains and firefighters’ suits.
Brown Asbestos
“Brown” asbestos or Amosite is a trade name for the amphiboles belonging to the Cummingtonite – Grunerite solid solution series, commonly from Africa.Blue Asbestos
“Blue” asbestos or Riebeckite is also known under the name of Crocidolite. Blue asbestos is commonly thought of as the most dangerous type of asbestos.Where is Asbestos Found?
Asbestos was used in thousands of industrial, commercial, construction, automotive and consumer products. The list of asbestos containing products is very long.In the United States, chrysotile has been the most commonly used type of asbestos. Chrysotile asbestos was often present in a wide variety of materials, including but not limited to:
- sheetrock taping
- mud and texture coats
- vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives and ceiling tiles
- plasters and stuccos
- roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles
- “transite” panels, siding, countertops, and pipes
- acoustical ceilings
- fireproofing
- putty
- caulk
- gaskets
- brake pads and shoes
- clutch plates
- stage curtains
- fire blankets
- interior fire doors
- fireproof clothing for firefighters
- refractory cements and papers
