Australians Suffers From Widespread Asbestosis

By: Peter Kent

As many as 900 Australians a year may be at risk for death due to mesothelioma cancer because of the rapidly rising number of mesothelioma diagnosis.The Australian workforce once relied heavily on jobs from asbestos-related processing and construction companies and now is finding that they are becoming victims of their one-time employment.Mesothelioma Death RatesA professor for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used World Health Organization (WHO) figures and found that the UK and Australia both currently lead in the number of mesothelioma-related deaths worldwide.Professor Julian Peto, head of the Cancer Research UK Epidemiology and Genetics Group, speculated that the death rate from asbestos-related diseases will only increase, especially among men who are currently 40 years of age, and who will become nearly 100 times more likely to die by the time they reach 80 years of age.Peto also speculated that since the 1980s, there have been approximately 10,000 cases of mesothelioma reported in Australia alone. He also concluded that within the next 40 years, more than 25,000 Australians could die from asbestosis.Asbestos and Mesothelioma DiagnosisAt its peak, in the 1970s, nearly 10,000 tonnes (equivalent to more than 22 million pounds) of brown asbestos was being imported into Australia for use in the construction industry, largely affecting construction workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and shipyard workers.According to Peto, who presented his findings at a public lecture at the University of Melbourne in April 2008, nearly 500 Australian men and 100 Australian women are diagnosed each year with asbestos-related conditions including mesothelioma cancer.What is Asbestos and How Does it Cause Mesothelioma?Vermiculite is a mineral for which asbestos comes from. There are several types of asbestos found throughout the world, and the use of asbestos was wide spread during the 20th century worldwide, as it was a heat-resistant product that was inexpensively produced, offering the construction industry a cheaply made and easily mass produced product.In Australia, not only was asbestos mined, but it was imported as well. For years, individuals were exposed to asbestos in many different ways and often, many of them developed mesothelioma cancer.Inhaling asbestos dust may cause mesothelioma cancer, an aggressive form of lung cancer. It is often misdiagnosed and even when symptoms are present, it can be difficult to diagnose.Additionally, it is considered a silent killer, as individuals suffering from mesothelioma cancer are usually unaware of their condition until the cancer is too far along to treat. Mesothelioma can be a dormant condition, not revealing symptoms for decades in an individual.Types of AsbestosThere are six types of asbestos commonly found including, chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), crocidolite (blue), tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Blue, brown and white were the most commonly used types of asbestos. Chrysotile is considered a more flexible form of asbestos and its use was implemented into a range of products including cement roofing sheets for buildings, brake linings, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and even for fire protection within fuses. In the United States, chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos found and a large contributor for mesothelioma there.