Our vital organs are sheathed in a single layer of compacted cuboidal cells. This layer, called mesothelium lines the serous cavities of our body. The cells of this covering become cancerous when particles of mesothelioma asbestos get deposited in it. The infection slowly retards the normal functioning of nearby organs thereby resulting in death. Statistics prove that almost ninety percent of all mesothelioma cases occur due to asbestos exposure only.
Immense industrial use is there for asbestos, which is a naturally occurring mineral. Being flexible and strong it is used in making roof shingles, cement, insulation, textiles etc. The problem with asbestos is that in the manufacturing process, thin fibers float in the air. This is inhaled or swallowed by the workers and the particles reach the mesothelium. Functions of macrophages are changed by the fibers of this material resulting in the development of suitable conditions for mesothelioma development. Mesothelioma asbestos has the capacity to retard the proper functioning of our immune system by activating oncogenes, proto-oncogenes, error prone DNA repair enzymes and deactivating tumor suppressor genes.
Risks of contracting mesothelioma are common among those who are staying near asbestos mines. Increased risks are there for the workers of factories and workshops where asbestos is used. The risk factor can be significantly decreased by wearing protective gear while handling asbestos.
Even family members of the workers are at risk since the particles can reach them through the hair and clothes of the workers. This problem can be avoided by having a shower and changing clothes in the work place before going home. There are some building materials, like those used for insulation which can prove dangerous for the people residing in it.
Mesothelioma symptoms start showing only many years after exposure to asbestos particles. By then the situation turns irretrievable in many cases. But proper and prompt diagnosis coupled with meticulous treatment measures has prolonged the lifespan of many people around us. Surgery, medication, radiation and some modern therapies like gene therapy are partially effective in the fight against this alarming malaise. But the best way is to avoid coming into contact with mesothelioma asbestos or using protective gadgets while handling the compound.
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