According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, federal regulations are in place that deal specifically with asbestos in schools.
Breathing in asbestos particles is a major risk factor for mesothelioma — a cancer of the tissue lining the chest and abdominal cavity.
Asbestos was once widely used for insulation. The EPA says it’s generally not hazardous if left undisturbed. But if the material that contains asbestos is damaged or even worn too ...
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The American Cancer Society says different forms of surgery might be used to treat some forms of mesothelioma.
Major surgery might be needed to attempt a cure – or at least extend the patient’s life — if he or she is otherwise in good health and the tumor appears to be in only one place. In most cases, though, the cancer has spread to other places before it is found and ...
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says people with vermiculite insulation in their homes should assume that it contains asbestos, and act accordingly.
Vermiculite is a naturally-occurring mineral composed of shiny flakes resembling mica, commonly used for housing insulation because it’s light-weight, fire-resistant and odorless.
The problem is that a mine near Libby, Montana, generated more than 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990. It was ...
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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 ...
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