Threat of Mesothelioma and Nanotechnology Causes Concern for Insurance Company
Over the course of the past year, new reports have revealed the asbestos-like qualities of carbon nanotubes and their potential ability to cause mesothelioma (a cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure).
However, the research is by no means conclusive. One insurance company, Continental Western Insurance Group, has responded by saying they will exclude coverage of nanotechnology starting in November. The company’s reason for this is due to the “Unknown and unknowable risks created by the products and processes that involved nanotubes.”
The statement from the insurance company says, “Reports have raised concerns regarding health risks from workers that may be inhaling carbon nanotubes during the manufacture of certain products. The carbon nanotubes resemble asbestos fibers in appearance, raising the concern that they may cause illness similar to that linked to asbestos.”
CWG plans to attach a nanotube exclusion to all policy issues for business owners, motor carriers, and other various insurance products. The company has also called for further research into the possible long-term consequences of being exposed to nanotubes.
The result of current research is far from being conclusive. One study showed nanotubes caused lesions similar to those caused by asbestos, but involved the implantation of nanotube fibers into experimental rats. Another study suggested that only carbon nanotubes of a particular long, thin, shape have the potential to cause malignant mesothelioma.
Some believe CWG is just trying to save money by using the word “asbestos” as a trigger-word and relating it to carbon nanotubes. Insurance companies in the past have paid out big money due to asbestos-related claims concerning asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural mesothelioma.
The EPA, as well as other environmental groups, are concerned about the possible consequences of the use of nanotechnology. However, Vicki Colvin, director of the National Science Foundation-funded Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology, says the potential benefits of carbon nanotubes are simply too powerful to ignore.
Source: Mesothelioma Cancer Center
Asbestos Exposure and Veterans
Many people are already aware of the U.S. military’s extensive history involving the use of toxic substances, such as Agent Orange and trichloroethylene (TCE). However, few are aware of the military’s widespread use of toxic asbestos products.
Primarily between the 1930s and the 1970s, every division of the U.S. military used asbestos-contaminated products in its buildings and in every type of transportation. Asbestos was most commonly used for insulation in military housing and other buildings on military bases. The toxic mineral was also integrated in numerous other building materials, ranging from floor covering to plumbing equipment.
For example, the Army and Air Force used the toxin in electric wiring insulation, as well as in break and clutch pads on vehicles such as jeeps, tanks, and aircraft. Even though all divisions of the military commonly used asbestos, the Navy found more uses for this heat-resistant mineral than any other division. Starting in the 1930s, the Navy began to fit its vessels with asbestos-contaminated products. Throughout the next five decades, more than 300 products imbedded with asbestos were used by the Navy alone. Applied mainly for fireproofing purposes throughout entire vessels, asbestos could also be found in products such as valves, gaskets, cables, adhesives, and others.
Because of its chemical structure, asbestos is a mineral that easily separates into microscopic fibers. The tiny particles can be readily inhaled when airborne, and can tend to adhere to the internal lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart. The body experiences great difficulty in breaking down the fibers, which can accumulate and cause immense damage over time. Due to extended latency periods, ranging from 15 to 50 years, asbestos exposure can result in illness many decades after exposure.
How are the Candidates Going to Clean America?
The method in which America creates energy has been a hot topic during the 2008 presidential election. For most, a primary concern deals with how we can keep prices down at the pump while eliminating our need for foreign oil. This desire has lead to the “drill here, drill now” crowd calling for domestic offshore drilling (among other things). While everyone agrees that energy independent principles are vital to revving up the American economy, there are big differences in how to accomplish this task. Notably, when it comes to the energy resources and environmental protection standards, there are fundamental differences in Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s interests. Additionally, when it comes to bills in congress addressing consumer protection, manufacturing standards, and other topics not talked about enough, the future will heavily depend upon which candidate prevails. The following include a few you may not have known about, and some you may have, but they are all liable to affect the lives of everyday Americans.
Asbestos and Mesothelioma as big of a Headline as ever
Asbestos and Mesothelioma are foreign terms for many people but unfortunately asbestos exposure is a prevalent as ever. It’s not hard to see, as a quick “Google News” search will bring up hundreds of results, many of which are recent, in which asbestos negligence is abundant.
Government regulations help but are not assisting in public awareness as many civilians are clueless to the dangers. Mesothelioma is the cancer that results from exposure and while mesothelioma treatments have improved, it is still one of the most fatal cancers around even if rare.
In St. Paul, Minnesota researchers recently met for an update on research into the cause of lung disease among iron ore miners. They had allocated nearly $5 million to study various aspects as to why so many men in northeaster Minnesota were getting mesothelioma at a rate double what is normal. It will take up to five years for a firm conclusion but they are studying iron ore samples and dust in the air in Iron Range communities.
Bruce Vento Ban Asbestos And Prevent Mesothelioma Act Of 2008 Is Passed
The House of Representatives made a landmark decision to pass a bill that will work to stop the use of asbestos, the only known cause of mesothelioma cancer. Named for former House of Representatives member Bruce Vento, who died of mesothelioma in 2001, the bill is a groundbreaking step towards a complete U.S. ban on asbestos use.
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Make a successful Compensation for Mesothelioma
The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). According to the Rand Institute for Civil Justice, the total cost of resolving asbestos compensation has already reached $54 billion, and could rise to as much as $260 billion.
People who:
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Asbestos Exposure: A Possible Threat after Hurricane Gustav
The federal Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, has issued a warning to residents returning home after Hurricane Gustav.
The agencies say people returning to homes damaged by the hurricane should be cautious, particularly when entering properties for the first time, to prevent possible injury or exposure to harmful toxins such as asbestos. It stands to reason that these will soon be followed by warnings for Hannah and Ike. Since asbestos can be found in numerous older, and even newer, construction materials, many homes and buildings damaged by the hurricane may contain newly disturbed asbestos-contaminated materials.
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How to Care for Mesothelioma Patients
Finding out that you or a family member has mesothelioma can be difficult enough. It is never easy to face the possibility of death and can be even more difficult facing the reality that a provider may no longer be able to support the family.
Caring for someone with Mesothelioma requires strength and patience. When your family members become one of the Mesothelioma sufferers, it can be a huge blow for you. The caring process can be emotionally and physically difficult for you.
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Effective Mesothelioma Treatment: Lovastatin
Lovastatin, a well-tolerated drug commonly used to treat high cholesterol, has shown positive 
results as an adjunctive, or secondary, drug treatment to inhibit mesothelial cell growth.
Early studies on Lovastatin originally excited researchers because of the unexpected, yet potent side effect it had on killing cancer cells. However, it was soon noted that humans were not able to tolerate the high doses of the drug needed to produce the anti-cancer effect, and plans to use the drug in cancer trials were temporarily postponed.
Mesothelioma and Diet
Food has important physical, social and emotional significance and whether you are suffering from mesothelioma or are a caregiver for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is beneficial to plan meals with these issues in mind. A balanced diet can help victims of mesothelioma maintain their overall health and improve their quality of life. In addition, diet and nutrition can play an important role in reducing the toxic side effects of some mesothelioma treatments.
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