nlowry

February 18, 2022

Why Was Asbestos Ever Used?

Today, the public is so aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure that many wonder why the substance was ever used at all. A brief look into the history of asbestos reveals its usefulness and the negligence of those who ignored its dangers. Found in Nature Asbestos is a mineral fiber found in nature, primarily [...]
February 18, 2022

The Baffling Lack of an Outright Asbestos Ban

In 2016, a new version of the U.S. leading toxics law put one particular chemical at the forefront. Asbestos. Fast forward five years later, and anything resembling a complete ban remains non-existent with a chemicals policy considered archaic, even with a new presidential administration. One of the milestones in the baffling, if not stubborn, refusal [...]
February 18, 2022

CA Announces Big Win in Battle Against Asbestos

California is leading the way in its fight to help protect the public from asbestos. One way the Golden State is fighting back is by calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do a better job at monitoring asbestos. California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently announced that it won a fight with the EPA [...]
February 18, 2022

Asbestos Exposure Dangerously Close to Home

Asbestos has been well documented as a dangerous substance that has resulted in countless diagnoses of respiratory illnesses, the most deadly being asbestosis and mesothelioma. Workers in a variety of industries, including construction, mining, and the military, have plied their respective trades at job sites, only to have their careers and lives shortened due to [...]
February 18, 2022

Yet Another Obstacle for Victims of Asbestos Exposure

A diagnosis of a disease caused by asbestos exposure is a life-changing moment that creates barriers for the patient and their family members facing an uncertain future. Asbestos exposure has been directly connected to severe health issues and mesothelioma diagnoses. Workers whose jobs involved contact with material used in insulation, roofing, tiling, and brake linings. [...]
February 18, 2022

Asbestos: Top Cause of Workplace Deaths in Saskatchewan Last Year

Asbestos remains a global concern. Just ask our neighbor to the north. A recent study by a Canadian government group disclosed that asbestos exposure represented the leading cause of workplace deaths in the western province of Saskatchewan last year. Roughly 30% of all work-related fatalities were attributed to some type of exposure to this hazardous [...]
February 18, 2022

Why Is Asbestos Still a Problem?

The risks of asbestos are well known. When a person inhales the dust particles, the fibers inflict damage to the lungs, often causing various diseases, including mesothelioma. Scientists, government, and industry have known about these hazards for a long time, but moves to lessen or completely halt asbestos use are hampered by companies who’d rather [...]
February 18, 2022

Is Asbestos Exposure Through Skin Contact Harmful?

Either through an at-risk occupation such as mining, heavy industry, construction, or pipe fitting, or from handling consumer products including hairdryers, curling irons, or kitchen appliances, exposure to asbestos is a common hazard. While the most frequent method of asbestos exposure involves breathing in the tiny fibrous minerals, inhalation does not present the only danger. [...]
February 18, 2022

The Role of Gender in a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

The stereotype of a mesothelioma patient is an older male who plied a trade over decades that exposed him to asbestos. In fact, many women receive these life-changing diagnoses. The disease does not discriminate. A recent study reveals the different dynamics between the genders, their specific needs, and how they deal with an uncertain and [...]