Why is raising awareness and educating the public about the dangers of asbestos and the impact of mesothelioma on a family important?
Asbestos, meaning inextinguishable in Greek, is a microscopic, fibrous mineral used in various products because of its resistance to heat, fire and chemicals. It is the political compellation of a group of similar minerals with separable, long, and thin fibers. These fibers are strong and flexible enough to be spun and woven. The average human hair is approximately 1,200 times thicker than the fibers of asbestos. When disturbed, asbestos becomes airborne allowing the fibers to be easily inhaled.
Asbestos dates back prior to the 1st century on the ancient Greek island of Ewoia, believed to be the home of the first asbestos mine. Throughout history, asbestos was identified as a useful material in a number of building applications for its wonderful properties, being called the “miracle fiber” and developing into a thriving industry.
With the rise of the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, asbestos use flourished and gained significant popularity in a number of industries. Asbestos can be found in an estimated 3,000 products such as vinyl flooring, insulation, shingles, brick, textured paint, brake pads for automobiles, toasters and hairdryers. It was a common product in the United
States military, extensively used on military vessels, like the battleship. Asbestos was heavily used in nearly every area where servicemen worked, slept, ate, and breathed. Unlike others who only worked with the material and could escape to their homes at night, soldiers could never avoid the danger of asbestos exposure. Navy vessels made use of tons of asbestos to help prevent devastating fires at sea. Navy members were particularly affected by asbestos; however, every branch of the armed forces used Navy vessels at one time or another being exposed to the fibers that filled the ships. Asbestos has been banned in fifty-five countries, although the United States is not one of them. In fact, an estimated thirty million pounds is still used by the U.S. every year. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes that asbestos is still present in tens of millions of homes, government buildings and schools; and has been found naturally occurring in the soil in several locations around the United States, sometimes in very close proximity to inhabited areas. There is no amount of exposure to asbestos that is deemed safe. Early research proves that this material could be linked to respiratory diseases. Since 1979, nearly 45,000 Americans have died from asbestos related diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma. There are 3,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year.
Mesothelioma, sometimes referred to as meso, mesothelioma cancer, or the “silent killer,” is a form of cancer most often caused by being exposed to asbestos. This disease affects the smooth lining of the chest, lungs, heart, and abdomen. The layer of tissue surrounding these organs is made up of mesothelial cells, hence the name mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma forms a solid tumor that begins because of insult to the tissues caused by asbestos particles. These penetrate into the pleural cavity of the chest or into the abdomen.
In early stages, mesothelioma is difficult to detect as it may start with a thickening of the pleural rind or fluid, which can be associated with many other conditions like the common cold or pneumonia with chest pain, breathing discomfort, or consistent cough. Symptoms may take between twenty to fifty years after exposure to asbestos. Once

symptoms do appear the silent killer progresses very quickly. Most mesothelioma patients are over the age of sixty.
The unfortunate truth is that it proves lethal within eighteen months of diagnosis; however, there are new and more effective forms of treatment emerging all the time.
A mesothelioma diagnosis can affect the mental, physical and emotional aspects of the victims’ life, but with the right attitude, proper information and a reliable support system, it is possible to overcome these challenges. Dealing with a cancer diagnosis, especially one as rare and aggressive as mesothelioma, can affect your life in many ways. Patients, caregivers and family members may feel overwhelmed, anxious, confused or angry about the many challenges ahead.
Some take this time to reflect on their lives and make positive changes to their mental, physical and emotional health.
Many survivors have found ways to cope with their diagnosis and not let it define them. Caregivers and family members, or “the hidden victim,” also learns to survive these challenges.
Asbestos cancer and its treatment can alter physical appearance, leaving the patient uncomfortable and selfconscious. Routine activities such as housework or running errands become moments of anxiety and self-doubt.
Symptoms from chemotherapy may make daily routines difficult, as chemo can cause extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach pain and loss of balance among many other factors. Most patients, caregivers and family members experience some level of depression, hopelessness and fear once this cancer becomes a part of their lives. The level of stress that results from the fear of not knowing what course the disease will run is the primary complaint of “hidden victims.” Other chief concerns of family members is the financial burden and exhausting amount of time spent on medically related activities. Families go through a great deal of anger and irritability directed by their loved one. They are in constant pain; they have trouble breathing, are overly fatigued, feel like a burden on their families and are going through numerous other side effects of the asbestos cancer causing this emotional turmoil.
September 11, 2001 was a day that shook the bedrock of American society. When the World Trade Centers collapsed, a cloud of toxic dust and debris blanketed Manhattan. Unknown to the public, this dust contained an array of carcinogenic particles including: lead, mercury, dioxins, benzene and, of course, asbestos. Asbestos was the most talked about toxin after 9/11. The risk was largely unknown to the public or at least downplayed as nothing to be concerned about. Construction on the twin towers began in the spring of 1966, before any regulations had been placed on the use of asbestos. The lower columns of the World Trade Centers were coated with literally tons of asbestos-between 400 and
1,000 tons. Asbestos was not used in the upper columns of the towers. At the time, asbestos was considered a safe fire retardant.
There was initially some controversy over the risk of asbestos exposure among first responders, survivors and residents due to the seemingly minute levels of asbestos released into the air as reported by the EPA. There was controversy about whether the levels of asbestos in the air posed a threat to anyone near the collapse. Reports conducted by the
EPA led first responders and residents to believe there was no immediate danger from the dust that erupted after the collapse of the twin towers. However, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. It turns out that 35% of the dust samples taken by the EPA just days after 9/11 contained unsafe levels of asbestos. Some areas were found to have had very high concentrations of asbestos. Meaning there was a palpable risk of asbestos exposure for everyone in Manhattan the days after 9/11. Nevertheless, the EPA stated that the air was safe to breathe in as little as two days after the collapse. Countless health issues have unfortunately emerged because of people inhaling the toxic dust. Most of these health issues being respiratory diseases including asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which pays tribute to the first responder to die from a 9/11 related illness, was established in
2006 to help the victims of exposure to the toxins released on 9/11. While the Zadroga Act did not initially cover victims with cancer, in 2012 the law was expanded to include over 50 types of cancer, including mesothelioma. More than likely, the 9/11 health programs will need to be expanded in the future due to the latency period of development of cancers like mesothelioma.
In conclusion, we should stand up for our loved ones, our health, our future, and ourselves. We need to come together and call for a worldwide ban on asbestos. Stop the import, export and use of asbestos, as well as to rid all asbestos in a safe and healthy manner. Let’s fight together to stop stockpiling lawyers filing cabinets and cemetery plots and get the word out about asbestos, mesothelioma and the dangers of both, while proving the foolishness of the higher-ups putting our lives in danger.