Types of Mesothelioma

> Pericardial Mesothelioma
> Peritoneal Mesothelioma
> Pleural Mesothelioma
> Testicular Mesothelioma
> Pleural Effusions

> Chemotherapy
> Clinical Trials
> Lung Transplants
> Pain Management
> Palliative Care
> Thoracic Surgery
> Radiation Therapy
> X-Rays

> What is Asbestos?
> History of Asbestos & Uses
> Health Hazards & Risks
> Types of Dangerous Jobs
> Dangers of Asbestos in Older Homes, Public Buildings & Schools

Risks of Mesothelioma Cancer Development & Asbestos Exposure Among Women

(October 6th, 2008)

Mesothelioma lung cancer & asbestos exposure is commonly picturized as a bunch of men working around metal works or shipyard industries or in a vermiculite mine with asbestos products. While this is true to some extent, women are also at equal risk of developing asbestos related diseases including Asbestosis. Cases of women developing mesothelioma are rising rapidly, and most of them occur through second hand asbestos exposure. An instance of second-hand asbestos exposure is when a husband who has worked around asbestos products in his shipyard job comes home with asbestos fibers on his clothes and his wife washes those clothes. The asbestos fibers could easily diffuse from the husband's clothes and be inhaled by the wife. Second hand asbestos exposure is not the only way women develop mesothelioma or asbestos related diseases.

Historically, women in Mediterrenean countries such as Turkey and Greece were responsible for 'whitewashing' the home. Whitewash in modern terms is a form of paint made from a compound mixture of lime, chalk, water among other ingredients and women were responsible for using this whitewash to paint the homes. In the older days, this whitewash was mixed with asbestos-containing soil and used to whitewash the home. Whitewash was also used to insulate the interior and exterior of cement structures used for siding Mission or Spanish style homes. Whitewash was painted on wooden walls with tar paper and then covered with stucco mixtures. Above is an example of a stucco structured home in Spain. Asbestos containing soil was also used as a toxic mineral to insulate roofs and prevent leakage. When women swept the floors of the house, they directly inhaled asbestos fibers clogged up in the dust. Furthermore, white asbestos soil was sometimes used in place of baby powder, making it a very naturally occuring mineral and easy to be inhaled by women. The wall picture on the right shows asbestos whitewash coming out from the wall after it has deteriorated quite a bit.

Men weren't the only breed of people exposed to Asbestos on the job. Women for instance working in laundry workshops where asbestos was present are at equal risk of inhaling asbestos fibers and developing asbestos related diseases such as Asbestosis and Mesothelioma lung cancer. Because of the ability of asbestos as a good insulator, it was commonly used in large commercial dryers and other appliances where heat & fire posed a threat. When these large dryers were made to run, their tore the asbestos insulation and circulated asbestos fibers on the air. Cleaners who cleaned the floors of these dryplaces also inhaled asbestos dust from the floors. Also, women who worked in cosmetic producing factories often inhaled asbestos fibers thanks to the asbestos-containing makeup and powders. Also during the World War II when men were off in the battlefield fighting, women had to replace their jobs such as shipyard workers, laborers in steel-producing factories and power plants, and were at risk of exposure to asbestos fibers.

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- Automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads.
- Building & construction industry uses asbestos for strengthening cement as well as sound absorption, roofing, insulation and fireproofing.
- Shipbuilding industry uses asbestos to insulate hot water pipes, boilers and steampipes... (Read More)

> About 2000 - 4000 Americans are diagnosed with Malignant Mesothelioma each year, and about 66% of those cases are of Pleural Mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma occurs when Cancer hits the lining of the lungs, also known as the 'Pleura.' The Pleura is a Sac which houses the lungs, and consists of a thin membrane called the 'mesothelium.' The mesothelium is a vital part of the lungs because it enables them to expand and contract when breathing by secreting a fluid. This fluid is located in the lungs and inside of the rib cage. If the Pleura or the Pleural fluid becomes damaged with Cancer, it makes it very hard for the patient to breathe, thus shortness of breath is a common symptom of Pleural mesothelioma... (Read More)