Mesothelioma Controversy
What makes mesothelioma a controversial issue is the fact that asbestos industry owners were aware of asbestos dangers for many years before they ever warned the public of those risks. Various occupations such as ship building, railroad and construction jobs have a high risk of their workers being exposed to asbestos and developing mesothelioma. This rare disease can be simply prevented by wearing protective clothing and masks at asbestos work sites. However, no protective measures were taken by the concerned people and the workers were not provided any masks or protective clothing. This lead to inhalation of asbestos by millions of people and caused malignant mesothelioma.
Not only this, but due to negligence, families of asbestos workers were also exposed to asbestos as asbestos particles can stay airborne and cause mesothelioma in others who inhale this infected air. Other objects which can transport asbestos particles are clothes, shoes and hair of people who work with asbestos. In some cases, it was also discovered that certain genetic factors were also playing an active role in endangering people to mesothelioma. Thus, when these facts regarding asbestos and mesothelioma were discovered, it brought a storm of controversy with it. Being a preventable disease it was possible prevents its spread, but due to avarice and selfishness of some people, millions suffered from this deadly cancer.
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, lining of the chest, stomach and lungs. This protective lining surrounds all the organs and helps them perform their functions smoothly. Cancer of this lining also affects the working of these organs leading to painful symptoms and other problems, which if not controlled can prove fatal.
Ban on Asbestos Use
Due to these reasons, U.S banned the use of asbestos products in 1975. Unfortunately, by then, many people were already exposed to high amounts of this cancerous material and even 20-50 years after this ban, people continued to come up with mesothelioma. Also, it was found that in spite of ban on asbestos use, asbestos was still used in various products which lead to many others inhaling this mineral. Even the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organizations were late in controlling asbestos exposure and its usage in commercial products.
The mesothelioma controversy stems from the fact that even though the industry owners and manufactures of asbestos products were aware of its life-threatening aspects; they still exposed millions of people to it. This caused hundreds and thousands of people losing their lives to this deadly cancer.
Mesothelioma Controversy and Mesothelioma Laws
This controversy led to passing of mesothelioma laws, which gave the mesothelioma patients right to file a lawsuit against the responsible industry and demand justice from them. In most of the cases, this justice came in form of compensation money which the patient could use for his/her treatment as mesothelioma treatment is not cheap at all. This compensation also helped patients with their other expense and left them financially secure in case the patient was sole earner of the family.
The mesothelioma controversy has not yet resolved. Now it surrounds the issues related to types of asbestos. The scientists and researchers are still striving to know whether chrysotile and amphibole asbestos cause mesothelioma and if they do, in which industry these types of asbestos are used. It can be said that as long the asbestos research continues and some aspects of this mineral remain undiscovered, mesothelioma controversy will remain unresolved. |
