“Asbestos exposure is the main cause of pleural mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they travel to the ends of small air passages and reach the pleura, where they can cause inflammation and scarring. This may damage cells’ DNA and cause changes that result in uncontrolled cell growth. If swallowed, these fibers can reach the abdominal lining, where they can have a role in causing peritoneal mesothelioma.”   www.cancer.org

• Asbestos exposure has been scientifically linked to causing malignant mesothelioma
• Asbestos is not banned in the United States in 2016.
• Asbestos is still imported and used in products
• Asbestos can still be found in many, many homes, commercial buildings, and schools
• Asbestos was used in the military on Naval ships and boiler rooms, leading to one third of all mesothelioma victims being Veterans
• The incubation period from asbestos exposure to developing mesothelioma is estimated to be 15-50 years.

All these facts are commonly known about asbestos role in a person developing malignant mesothelioma by those in the mesothelioma community.

Although not banned, asbestos and asbestos exposure are regulated. Removal of asbestos from a building requires permits, inspections and trained qualified personnel.   It is imperative to remove asbestos in the right way for the health of all involved.

There is nothing new about any of the above information for people in the mesothelioma community. Recently in the newspaper it was reported about a local landlord who owns multiple properties, and was renovating them. Not only did he not obtain the correct permits, he allowed contractors to perform illegal asbestos work on four homes he was renovating. He was brought to court by the Attorney General of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and was fined. The reason for the $100,000.00 fine was putting workers and the public at risk for asbestos exposure. The suit was filed in 2012 and settled in 2016.

Knowing the potentially deadly consequences of exposure to asbestos, how does the mesothelioma community raise awareness? Educate the public? Put a face to this fatal disease? On Monday September 26 the Mesothelioma community will join to help educate people about the real dangers of asbestos, the potentially lethal ways asbestos kills, and the human suffering that involves all mesothelioma victims and their families. Since 2010, September 26 has been the Mesothelioma Awareness Day, as proclaimed by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

This year we encourage you to get involved, raise awareness and educate the public to the dangers of asbestos all around us.

– Ellie