The first piece of advice the Environmental Protection Agency gives if you believe you have asbestos in your home is: don’t panic.
If the material that contains asbestos is in good condition and isn’t damaged or disturbed, it isn’t likely to pose a health risk. In those cases, the EPA recommends that you leave the material alone.
But those materials can present a problem if they’re disturbed, damaged, removed improperly, repaired, cut, ...
continue reading...According to the Environmental Protection Agency, undisturbed asbestos in your home shouldn’t present a problem. But if asbestos fibers are released into the air — by product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair, or remodeling – it can present a health hazard.
That’s because breathing in asbestos particles can cause respiratory problems. One of the conditions associated with asbestos is mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the tissue lining ...
continue reading...According to the American Cancer Society, merely arriving at a diagnosis of the type of cancer known as mesothelioma isn’t enough to begin treatment. Medical providers must also “stage” the mesothelioma, which means determining how far the cancer has spread.
Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, which is the protective lining that covers many of the body’s internal organs. In the vast majority of cases, it’s caused by exposure to asbestos.
Currently, the only ...
continue reading...Doctors usually perform an initial physical exam on patients they suspect may have the relatively rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma. It affects the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the body’s internal organs, and is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.
If symptoms or the results of the exam suggest a patient has mesothelioma, further tests will be necessary to make sure. According to the American Cancer ...
continue reading...According to the American Cancer Society, it can be a challenge for doctors to detect mesothelioma — a relatively rare cancer affecting the mesothelium, which is the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body.
There are no widely recommended screening tests, but exposure to asbestos is the primary cause, and some doctors recommend imaging tests for people who may be at risk. Those tests include chest ...
continue reading...State and federal health regulators are warning New Jersey residents rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy to watch out for hidden health hazards, including asbestos.
A story in the Newark Star Ledger says panelists raised those concerns at a forum for New Jersey residents. Participants included representatives of the New Jersey Work Environment Council, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The report quotes Judith Enck, regional administrator ...
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