Asbestos Cancer Fatalities In US May Peak In 2010
Deaths due to the disease known as Malignant Mesothelioma which is a form of cancer mainly caused by over exposure to asbestos are on a rise in the United States. The Centers Disease Control officials examined death records of people in the US, and to their great surprise found that over 18000 deaths occurred in US between 1999-2005 due to malignant mesothelioma. According to the officials, majority of the deaths that occurred due to mesothelioma were among Caucasian people, with Maine being the highest state.
Despite the fact that numerous rigid steps have been taken in order to diminish the use of asbestos, deaths due to asbestos exposure keep on taking place. These deaths mainly occur due to the “Dormant Phase”. It is a phase when the asbestos lies dormant inside the body of the individuals for many years. The period between the first asbestos exposure and the commencement of various asbestos linked diseases can be around 40 years. CDC officials predicted that the number of deaths due to mesothelioma would hit record high by 2010.
The study reported that despite the use of asbestos in the manufacturing of various products has been eliminated; asbestos is being imported and used as part of many construction products. The report added that in order to ensure the deaths due to mesothelioma decrease in the coming years, careful control and planning is required regarding the use of asbestos.
Even though mesothelioma is generally related with men who work in certain places and occupations, like mining and constructions, the number of females who are developing this particular disease has increased by many folds in the past few years. For example in United Kingdom, a number of women who used to wash asbestos covered clothes of their fathers or some other family associate, are now at a risk of dying due to mesothelioma. This difficulty associated with 2nd hand exposures to asbestos is equally serious in US, as many women mostly in the twenties or thirties are now suffering from similar diseases such as mesothelioma.