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Asbestos Dangers
The dangers of asbestos have been researched for many years. As early as 1898, the Chief Inspector of Factories in the United Kingdom reported to Parliament about the "evil effects of asbestos dust". He was aware of the sharp, glass-like nature of the particles, and their dangers. It wasn't until 1906 that a British Parliamentary Commission confirmed the first cases of asbestos deaths. In 1918, an American insurance company produced a study regarding asbestos dangers, and in 1926 the first successful claim was awarded to a sick asbestos worker. Asbestos is commonly known to cause a variety of conditions, including: Asbestosis - Pulminary fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs caused by asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma - Form of lung cancer that occurs in the chest and abdominal cavities. Very aggressive, cancer grows on the mesothelium, or tissue found on the inner walls of the chest and abdomen. Can also grow on the outside of the lungs, rather than interior. Asbestos Warts - caused when the sharp edged asbestos fibers lodge in the skin and are overgrown, causing benign callus-like growths. Pleural Plaques - A thickened area which can be seen in X-Rays of individuals who have been exposed to asbestos, rarely malignant. Diffuse pleural thickening - Similar to Pleural Plaques, usually no symptoms but if extensive can cause lung malfunction.
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