In the 20th century many people have been exposed to asbestos not even knowing it. Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral notable for its chemical- and heat-resistance and electricity non-conducting. Asbestos was widely used in industry and everyday life until 1980 when the EU and many other developed countries have banned it.
When swallowed or inhaled asbestos can stay in the human body producing toxic effect which may result in a number of serious diseases, such as asbestosis, Mesothelioma (Mesothelium cancer), lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, colorectal cancer, and other illnesses.
Mesothelioma (also known as "asbestos cancer") is a most common asbestos-related type of cancer. The Mesothelium is a cellular membrane lining certain cavities of the human body. Mesothelioma may develop in lung, abdominal, scrotal, and heart sac cavities, the four types of M. being called Pleural, Peritoneal, Testicular, and Pericardial. In 70 percent of cases Mesothelioma is pleural in origin.
Up to 3000 cases of malignant Mesothelioma are registered in the United States every year.
Mesothelioma is often diagnosed at its later stage because its symptoms usually appear 20 to 50 years after the initial asbestos exposure. Another reason of untimely diagnosis is that the symptoms of Mesothelioma (i.e. chest pain, continual coughing, short breath, fatigue or fever etc) resemble less severe and quite common conditions, such as influenza.
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