Mesothelioma Prevention

Mesothelioma is a rare type of
cancer caused by exposure to
asbestos. Statistics show that
there are 2,000 to 3,000 new
cases of mesothelioma each year.
Mesothelioma prevention is about eliminating the cause of
the disease: asbestos. The most
number of mesothelioma cases
are occupational-related, while
non-occupational related or
secondary mesothelioma cases are not rare. Mesothelioma
prevention should start by
knowing the sources of
asbestos, and knowing how to
remove them.

Certain types of workers are
considered at high risk for
mesothelioma based on the
nature of occupation that they
have. The following are workers
considered as high risk:

Brick layers, longshoremen,
drywall contractors, electricians,
drillers, miners, sheet metal
workers, painters, mechanics
(exposure to asbestos in brakes
and clutches), and building inspectors Occupations that include
manufacture of asbestos such as
fireproofing and plumbing;
manufacture of gaskets, floor
tiles, pipe coverings, and cement Workers in asbestos-
manufacturing factories People employed in shipyards, rail
yard, oil refinery, and building
industries For people working in the trades
describes above, make sure that
workplace regulations as defined
by the U.S. Occupational Safety
and Health Administration for
mesothelioma prevention are in place. Some asbestos fibers may
attach to hair, skin, and clothing,
and you can put your family at
risk if brought home. For
mesothelioma prevention, federal
laws now require workers to follow several precautions
including: Showering before leaving the
workplace Storing clothes separate from
work clothes in the workplace Changing out of work clothes
into street clothes before
leaving the workplace Washing work clothes at
workplace Some studies have also shown
that workers who smoke have
higher chances of developing
mesothelioma than those who
don't. Studies have shown that non-
occupational exposure in public
buildings, schools, and homes also
occur since asbestos is used in
building materials such insulation
and plumbing. Use of asbestos in building materials and paints was
prevalent especially from the
1930s to the 1970s. For non-
occupational mesothelioma
prevention, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a number of steps. Asbestos was used in the
production of roofs, siding
shingles, vinyl floor tiles,
adhesives, stove top pads, and
hot water pipes. Homes built
before the 1950s may be more likely to have used materials
containing asbestos. If you
suspect presence of asbestos in
your home, have samples of your
building materials removed and
laboratory-tested by an asbestos professional. Do not disturb asbestos
materials. This will only release
fibrous materials into the air,
which can be inhaled into the
lungs. Do not sweep asbestos
materials, or sand, scrape, and drill holes into materials that
may contain asbestos.
Contact
an asbestos abatement or
removal professional to remove
asbestos-containing materials
from your home. If there are asbestos fibers on
the floor or any surface of your
home, never sweep or vacuum
them as they will only cause
fibers to go airborne. Contact an
asbestos abatement professional right away for proper removal
of fibers.

Public buildings should do the
same mesothelioma prevention
steps such as having building
materials sampled, cleaned, and
removed by asbestos
professionals.