Innovative approach to mesothelioma prevention
A recent article in Electronics Weekly showcased a potentially life-saving technology. Mohammed Zulfiquar, CEO of Birmingham, UK based Datatecnics, has designed a wall covering aptly called Asbestos Disturbance Automated Alert System, or ADAAS. Using a web-like system of tiny censors spread through a clear film, ADAAS works like an adhesive wall covering—or covering for any asbestos-containing material—with a built in alarm system that sounds when asbestos is detected.
Mesothelioma, a rare and fatal cancer, is caused by asbestos exposure. An estimated twenty thousand people each year around the world suffer with mesothelioma. World Health Organization estimates this number is moving closer to ninety thousand as asbestos continues to be used globally and asbestos containing materials once considered safe are now breaking down and releasing toxic asbestos fibers.
Mesothelioma development is started by asbestos fibers being inhaled. A mutative growth process can ensue, spreading malignant tumors through protective organ lining, most often the mesothelium, or lung lining. Mesothelioma develops quietly for decades, without showing signs or symptoms. Most patients have no idea they are harboring a deadly cancer until the disease’s final and most aggressive stage, often twenty to fifty years after original asbestos exposure. When symptoms do demonstrate during the last stage of mesothelioma, they mimic those of pneumonia or bronchitis, further postponing proper diagnosis.
Mesothelioma treatments are available, both standard and what many consider radical. Surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are typically used in combination to raise patient quality of life and extend life expectancy, which averages eighteen months following diagnosis. Alternative treatments may include removal of a lung and other affected organs in an effort to rid the patient completely of mesothelioma.
Approximately 70-90% of UK schools contain asbestos materials; many of these buildings are beginning to show signs of wear and tear, the pre-cursor to release of toxic asbestos fibers. Zulfiquar says in Electronics Weekly article, “Asbestos is in a lot of public buildings. The Government estimated that 70% of UK schools contain it and the guidance from the Health and Safety Executive is to manage most of it, not remove it.”
In light of these statistics, and others associated with mesothelioma, Zulfiquar began his research and development of ADAAS hoping to make a positive impact in the world of mesothelioma and asbestos related illnesses. He says of his product, “You paper the wall, and have just two wires connected to a control; something like an alarm. My first prototype was just aluminium foil on sheets of paper.”
ADAAS offers a cost-effective, practical way of managing asbestos exposure. No quarantined abatement is necessary and work and life can go relatively uninterrupted while the film is applied to selected areas. As the mesothelioma case numbers rise, Zulfiquar’s invention, and innovations like his, are a celebrated addition to disease prevention.
Severe flooding causes mesothelioma threat
September 2009 brought severe flooding to parts of Georgia and southeastern US. Cobb County city saw at least fifty houses damaged by high and heavy water, with many of these homes abandoned. The city purchased as many as nineteen of the damaged properties and is now accepting bids for demolition and asbestos abatement.
Proper removal and disposal of asbestos is paramount for public safety. Classified as a Type 1 carcinogen by World Health Organization, asbestos causes several respiratory diseases, including fatal cancer mesothelioma. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can become lodged in internal tissues, beginning a cancerous growth process that leads to pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma—the two types of malignant mesothelioma.
Malignant mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period typically ranging from twenty to fifty years. Patients generally remain unaware of their condition through this latency period. It is the last and most aggressive stage of mesothelioma that demonstrates symptoms. Mesothelioma symptoms are easily mistaken for those of bronchitis or pneumonia, making mesothelioma difficult to diagnose.
Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, patient life expectancy averages eighteen months. Mesothelioma treatments are available, including surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Often, treatments are administered in combination to manage pain and raise patient quality of life. There is no known cure for mesothelioma.
In past decades mesothelioma has been closely associated with industrial employment, where much asbestos was used in raw form in manufacturing processes. However, in recent years as asbestos-containing materials—once considered safe—begin to break down, or are demolished for replacement, commercial, residential and municipal buildings and structures have become threats to public safety.
The threat of asbestos exposure is acute in circumstances where demolition or renovations are necessary. Without proper removal of toxic asbestos products prior to destruction of asbestos-containing components, toxic fibers can easily become airborne and uncontrolled. Natural disasters such as flooding, fires, hurricanes and tornadoes, often wreak enough damage on buildings to expose asbestos fibers without human involvement. It has become increasingly aware to emergency response officials and safety officers that a great responsibility lies with those managing demolition and clean up to contain toxic fibers and minimize health hazards.
Cobb County city is just one of many US communities that continues to experience severe weather related damage. Instances like this are adding to the rising number of worldwide mesothelioma cases. Experts estimate global asbestos-related disease cases to reach ninety thousand in the next few years if asbestos use and removal trends are not drastically changed.
Time is changing mesothelioma patient demographics
A recent article in the Salisbury Journal discussed a mesothelioma case brought on by asbestos exposure from restaurant oven seals. Italian chef Luigi Pes, married with two grown children, was diagnosed in February 2008 with malignant mesothelioma. Like many more recent cases of mesothelioma, Pes’s exposure did not come from one of the industrial sources more commonly associated with the dreaded disease.
Even as many countries enforce asbestos regulations, older asbestos-containing components built before such regulations were in place are wearing down or being demolished for replacement, releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Today, millions of people employed outside the industrial workforce could be in danger from asbestos—what has long been considered an “industrial hazard.”
Adrian Budgen, of UK law firm Irwin Mitchell, recognizes this change in asbestos exposure potential and patient demographics. In a July 5th article in The Star, Budgen says: “Asbestos has long been associated with heavy industry but sadly we are seeing an increasing number of people from other sectors – such as health and education – falling victim to diseases like mesothelioma.
“Over the years, as asbestos-containing materials began to deteriorate and crumble, many UK workers were inhaling the lethal fibres as they went about their daily tasks, completely unaware of the dangers they were facing, putting them at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
“The rising numbers of white- collar workers who are going on to suffer from mesothelioma highlights the need for a proper record of which public buildings – whether they are council offices, hospitals or schools – contain asbestos to prevent future, needless tragedies.”
Mesothelioma is considered a fatal cancer. It affects the protective lining of lungs and other abdominal cavities and is caused by inhalation or ingestion of toxic asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period following asbestos exposure, and a short life expectancy following diagnosis. There are several mesothelioma treatments available, but no known cure.
Libby Montana faces another asbestos threat
The town of Libby Montana has suffered years of health threats due to the W.R Grace vermiculite mine. For years it was unknown that vermiculite from W.R Grace mine was contaminated with toxic asbestos. While producing and shipping thousands of tons of vermiculite for insulation material, the mine was also spreading toxic asbestos through the nation. A naturally occurring chemical, asbestos causes severe respiratory illnesses including fatal cancer mesothelioma.
Now, after much clean up and economic change residents of Libby, Montana have found yet another present threat. Large piles of wood chips accumulated over the years in the community have been used locally and hauled to distant locations to be used in a projects ranging from large-scale landscaping and erosion control to residential garden mulching.
Officials have found that wood chips from these piles are also contaminated with asbestos. Amounts of the toxin present in the wood chips have not been clarified. However, the federal government has allegedly been aware of the chips’ contamination for some time. Residents and local authorities are wondering who they can trust.
According to a recent Associated Press report, Montana U.S. Sen. Max Baucus said of the community’s situation: “The people of Libby have already been poisoned in the name of greed and I won’t allow them to be poisoned again because of negligence.”
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects lung lining and lining of other abdominal cavities. It is characterized by a long latency period and symptoms that mimic pneumonia and bronchitis; these attributes make mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. Once a diagnosis has been made average patient life expectancy ranges from six months to two years. There are mesothelioma treatments available, but no known cure.
Mesothelioma patients may benefit from Pfizer’s new cancer treatment
The beginning of this month saw Pfizer introduce a new cancer treatment to the medical community. From June 4th through June 8th, the Annual Society of Clinical Oncology met in Chicago Illinois, where the pharmaceutical giant presented its new drug. Specific to non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC)—comprising less than 5% of all cancer cases—crizotinib targets a genetic marker anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), which may also be present in pleural mesothelioma tumor cells.
Pleural mesothelioma is one of two known types of the rare cancer. Affecting lung lining, pleural mesothelioma makes up about 80% of all mesothelioma cases. The other 20% affects linings of other abdominal organs and is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Both types are considered fatal and without cure.
Asbestos fibers cause malignant mesothelioma through inhalation or ingestion. Fibers become lodged in lung lining and begin a mutative process of healthy cells. This process turns into tumor development and lasts for twenty to fifty years. Most mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to toxic asbestos and therefore have no idea they are developing the deadly cancer.
Characterized by such a long latency period, mesothelioma is extremely difficult to diagnose. Once symptoms begin to show mesothelioma is in its final and most aggressive stage; following diagnosis life expectancy averages just eighteen months. Although mesothelioma treatments exist, many patients choose palliative care rather than cancer-direct treatments. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy—standards in mesothelioma treatment—can be quite taxing on patients already struggling with the effects of the disease. Providers often choose to focus on pain management, raising quality of life, and extending life expectancy, rather that picking a battle with fatal mesothelioma.
Crizotinib showed promise in clinical testing by greatly increasing life expectancy in patients with advanced cases of NSCLC. Standard life expectancy for NSCLC cases peaks at 2 years; at which point only 20% of patients are alive. With crizotinib, 74% of patients tested were alive after one year, and 54% were alive after two—this is a great step in extending patient life expectancy in an arena of such characteristically low mortality rates.
New treatments are a welcome development in a world witnessing rising mesothelioma cases. Asbestos continues to be used globally and more so in developing countries where safety precautions are minimal, if existent, and health hazards go unchecked. Experts expect to see a rise in worldwide mesothelioma cases unless asbestos use is stopped immediately. Sadly, many struggling economies are dependant upon export or import of the toxic material keeping an end to asbestos use out of sight.
