California’s Sierra Trails May be Asbestos-Ridden

Many of California’s Sierra trails are ridden with toxic materials. The gold mines have left a significant mark on the foothills–leaving behind a legacy of contamination.

The Sierra Fund tested the soil of several trails near mine mouths, and discovered high levels of arsenic, lead and asbestos.

The asbestos poses a serious health risk to those who come in contact with the trails. For dust stirred up by hikers, bikers and horseback riders may be inhaled. When airborne asbestos particles are inhaled, those exposed are put at risk for contracting a variety of asbestos related diseases. Mesothelioma, however, is the most aggressive form to arise from asbestos exposure.

Due to the diseases’ dormant nature, mesothelioma doctors struggle to diagnose patients who fail to show symptoms for several decades. There is no mesothelioma cure.

Chief executive of the Sierra Fund, Elizabeth Martin, noted that the Gold Rush, "not only brought wealth and hundreds of thousands of people to California, it also brought mining machines that ripped down sides of mountains and tunneled thousands of feet into rock, leaving behind arsenic and lead.”

The Sierra Fund has also noted that 47,000 abandoned mines pose threats to public safety, especially for those who spend time in the foothills, according to the San Francisco Gate.

"A lot of people are aware that their kids can fall into a hole at an old mine. But they don’t know that asbestos fibers can lodge into their lungs or lead can be absorbed into their skin," said Martin.

Additional testing will be completed by the group in highly trafficked trails.

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Various How to Treat Mesothelioma

The prognosis for malignant mesothelioma remains disappointing, although there are some modest improvements in the prognosis of new chemotherapy and multimodality treatment. Treatment of malignant mesothelioma in early stages have a better prognosis, but treatment is very rare. Clinical behavior of malignancy is affected by several factors including mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which continued to favor local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs in the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and the development of the disease. Histological subtype and patient age and health status also help predict prognosis.

1. Operation

Operations, by itself, has proved disappointing. In one large series, median survival with surgery (including extrapleural pneumonectomy) is only 11.7 months. However, research shows varying success when used in combination with radiation and chemotherapy (Duke, 2008). (For more information about multimodality therapy with surgery, see below). A pleurectomy / decortication is the most common operations, in which layers of the chest is removed. Less common is extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lungs, lining the inside of the chest, hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium removed.

2. Radiation

For patients with local disease, and which can tolerate radical surgery, radiation is often given post-operatively as a treatment konsolidatif. The hemi whole-breast treated with radiation therapy, often given concurrently with chemotherapy. The approach using surgery followed by radiation with chemotherapy has been pioneered by a team of breast oncology at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Delivering radiation and chemotherapy after radical surgery has led to extended life expectancy in selected patient populations with some patients survive more than 5 years. As part of the curative approach to mesothelioma, radiotherapy is also commonly applied to the chest drain sites of insertion, to prevent tumor growth along the chest wall.

Although mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment by radiotherapy alone, palliative treatment regimens are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of major blood vessels. Radiation therapy when given alone with curative intent was never proven to improve survival from mesothelioma. The radiation dose required to treat mesothelioma that has not surgery would be very toxic.

3. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the only treatment for mesothelioma that has been proven to increase survival in randomized and controlled trials. The study, published in 2003 by Vogelzang and colleagues compared cisplatin combination chemotherapy alone with cisplatin and pemetrexed brand name of ALIMTA), chemotherapy (in patients not receiving chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma who are not candidates earlier and more aggressive curative "surgery". This experiment is the first reported survival benefit from chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma, showed statistically significant improvement in average survival of 10 months in patients treated with cisplatin alone to 13.3 months in the group of patients treated with cisplatin in combination with pemetrexed and who also received supplementation with folate and vitamin B 12. Vitamin supplements given to patients who are most at trial and pemetrexed-related side effects were significantly less in patients who received pemetrexed when they also received 500mcg of folate daily oral and intramuscular Vitamin B 12 1000mcg every 9 weeks compared with patients receiving pemetrexed without vitamin supplementation. The objective response rate increased from 20% in the cisplatin group to 46% in the combination of pemetrexed. Some side effects such as nausea and vomiting, stomatitis, and diarrhea are more common pemetrexed in combination group but only affects a minority of patients and the overall combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin was well tolerated when patients were receiving vitamin supplements, a good quality of life and lung function tests improved in the combination group pemetrexed. In February 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved pemetrexed for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. However, there are still unanswered questions about the optimal use of chemotherapy, including when to start treatment, and the optimal number of cycles to give.

Cisplatin in combination with raltitrexed has demonstrated an improvement in survival similar to that reported for pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin, but raltitrexed is no longer available commercially for this indication. For patients unable to tolerate pemetrexed, cisplatin in combination with gemcitabine or vinorelbine is an alternative, or vinorelbine alone, although survival benefit has not been shown for these drugs. For patients who can not be used cisplatin, carboplatin can be replaced but a non-random data have shown lower response rates and high levels of haematological toxicity for carboplatin-based combinations, even with survival rates similar to patients receiving cisplatin.

In January 2009, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved use of conventional therapies such as surgery in combination with radiation and or chemotherapy in stage I or II Mesothelioma after the study was conducted through a national study by Duke University concluded that increased almost 50 points at the level of remission.

4.Imunoterapi

Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have produced variable results. For example, intrapleural inoculation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in an effort to enhance the immune response, was found to be of no benefit to the patient (while it may be beneficial for patients with bladder cancer). Mesothelioma cells proved susceptible in vitro lysis by LAK cells following activation by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but patients undergoing this particular therapy experienced major side effects. Indeed, this trial was stopped considering the very high levels of IL-2 toxicity and the severity of side effects such as fever and cachexia. Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experienced a decrease greater than 50% in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.

5. Heated Intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy

A procedure known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute. The surgeon held up as much as possible the tumor followed by immediate administration of chemotherapy agent, heated to between 40 and 48 ° C, in the stomach. This fluid diperfusi for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained.

This technique allows administration of high concentrations of selected drugs into the surface of the abdomen and pelvis. Heating the chemotherapy treatment increases the penetration of drugs into the network. Also, heating itself destroy malignant cells over normal cells.

This technique is also used in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

6. Multimodality Therapy

All the standard approach to treating solid tumors, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery-have been investigated in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Despite surgery, by itself, is not very effective, surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation (trimodality therapy) has resulted in a significant extension of survival (3-14 years) among patients with favorable prognostic factors. Other large series of multimodality treatment, but examination showed only modest improvement in survival (median survival of 14.5 months and only 29.6% surviving 2 years). Substantially reducing the tumor by cytoreductive surgery is the key to prolong survival. Two operations have been developed: extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy / decortication. Indications for this operation unique. Surgical options depend on the size of tumor patients. This is an important consideration because the volume of tumor was identified as a prognostic factor in mesothelioma. Pleurectomy / decortication spare the underlying lung and is performed in patients with early-stage disease when it is intended to remove all visible tumor gross (macroscopic complete resection), not just palliative. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is a wider operation involving resection of the parietal and visceral pleurae, underlying lung, ipsilateral diaphragm, and ipsilateral pericardium. This operation is indicated for a subset of patients with more advanced tumors, which can tolerate a pneumonectomy.

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Posted in: asbestos.,Asbestosis,Mesothelioma,treat mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Causes Disease

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. In the United States, asbestos is the major cause of malignant mesothelioma and has been considered to be "denied" associated with the development of mesothelioma. Indeed, the relationship between asbestos and mesothelioma was so strong that many consider mesothelioma is a "signal" or "sentinel" tumor. The history of asbestos exposure exists in many cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), and inhaling other fibrous silicates, such as erionit. Some studies suggest that simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma.

Asbestos was known in ancient times, but it was not mined and widely used commercially until the late 19th century. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with exposure to asbestos is not publicly known. However, the increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people working in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other traders. Currently, the official position of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and U.S. EPA is that the protection and "permissible exposure limits" required by United States regulations, while sufficient to prevent non-malignant asbestos-related mostly, they are inadequate to prevent or protect against asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma. Likewise, the British Government Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states formally that any threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very low level and is widely agreed that if any such threshold exists at all, so this time can not be measured. For practical purposes, therefore, HSE assumes that no such "safe" threshold exists. Others have noted also that there was no evidence of a threshold below which there is no risk of mesothelioma. There appears to be, linear dose-response relationship, with increasing doses of disease produces increased. [14] However, mesothelioma may be associated with a short, low-level or direct exposure to asbestos. The dose required for the effect seems to be lower for asbestos-caused mesothelioma than pulmonary asbestosis or lung cancer. Again, there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma.

The duration of exposure mesothelioma asbestos so as to short. For example, cases of mesothelioma have been documented with only 1-3 months after infection. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to reduce risk exposure.

Latency, time from first exposure to manifestation of the disease, which is prolonged in the case of mesothelioma. This is almost never less than fifteen years and peak at 30-40 years. In a review of occupationally-related mesothelioma cases, the average latency is 32 years old. Based on data from Peto et al, the risk of mesothelioma appears to be rising third or fourth power of the first exposure.

1. Environmental exposures

The incidence of mesothelioma had been found to be higher in populations living near naturally asbestos. For example, in the heart of Cappadocia, Turkey, mesothelioma causes 50% of all deaths in three small villages - Tuzköy, Karain and Sarıhıdır. Initially, this is due erionit, a zeolite mineral with properties similar to asbestos, however, recently, detailed epidemiological investigations indicate that cause erionit mesothelioma mostly in families with genetic predisposition. Documented presence of asbestos fibers in water supplies and food products has prompted concerns about possible long-term impact and, as yet, unknown exposure of the general population of these fibers.

2. Job

Exposure to asbestos fibers has been recognized as an occupational health hazard since the early 20th century. Numerous epidemiological studies have linked exposure to asbestos with the development of pleural plaques, pleural thickening spreads, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx, gastrointestinal tumors, and malignant pleural mesothelioma spreads and peritoneum. Asbestos has been widely used in industrial products, including cement, brake linings, gaskets, roofing shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.

Commercial asbestos mining at Wittenoom, Western Australia, occurred between 1945 and 1966. A cohort study of miners working at the mine reported that while no deaths occurred within the first 10 years after crocidolite exposure, 85 deaths due to mesothelioma had occurred in 1985. In 1994, reported 539 deaths from mesothelioma have been reported in Western Australia.

3. secondary exposure Paraoccupational

Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other diseases related to asbestos. These risks may result from exposure to asbestos dust brought home on clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the possibility of showing the family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

4. Asbestos in buildings

Many building materials used in both public and domestic places before the banning of asbestos may contain asbestos. They work doing renovations or DIY activities may expose themselves to asbestos dust. In the UK the use of Chrysotile asbestos was banned in late 1999. Brown and blue asbestos was banned in England around 1985. Buildings built or renovated prior to these dates may contain asbestos materials.

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Posted in: asbestos.,Asbestosis,Mesothelioma,Mesothelioma Causes Disease

What is Mesothelioma ?

Mesothelioma, malignant mesothelioma rather, is a rare form of cancer that develops from a protective layer that covers much of the internal organs of the body, the mesothelium. This is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.

Its most common site is the pleura (the outer layer of the lungs and internal chest wall), but also can occur in the peritoneum (abdominal cavity lining), the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis (the sac that surrounds the testes).

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles and glass, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibers in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of family members who work with asbestos or glass can place someone at risk of developing mesothelioma. [3] Unlike lung cancer, no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of asbestos-induced cancers. Those who have been exposed to asbestos often take advantage of attorney to collect damages for asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in the legal practice of mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

Mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. Diagnosis can be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. This allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from collecting and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease is brought poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing. (source)

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Posted in: asbestos.,Asbestosis,Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma and Asbestosis

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease where cancer cells (malignant) pleural sac was found in the lungs (pleural meothelioma), or the peritoneum lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma). Shortness of breath and pain in the chest has always been geala pleural mesothelioma. This phenomenon is also accompanied by weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling. Mesothelioma is commonly found in people who work where they are forced to inhale absestos. These symptoms will appear after 30 to 50 years asbestos sufferers exposed to air. Treatment of mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, disease stage, patient age and general health conditions.

Why do the advertisers have to pay more for 'disease' of mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma patients always contact a lawyer to fight the workers or manufactured products due to the use of asbestosis, and they bear the risk of the disease. The lawyers get thousands of dollars for themselves and patients after memnangkan lawsuit in court. Many things are done in the case of mesothelioma, and a lot of costs already incurred, but it is very small compared with the money they earn.

With such an idea has gained popularity in which competition increased so did the ad at the top, in this virtual world Mesothelioma ditelurkan. But the more sites that can access, the competitors will take the surfer from many other sites and advertising costs also decreased. No information about prices to be paid after the commission of the word 'mesothelioma' and 'asbestosis' is known to conflict with the rules of this program service.(Source)

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Posted in: Asbestosis,cancer,google adsense,health,Kesehatan,Mesothelioma