Study Finds Low-Level Exposure to Asbestos from Rocks and Other Natural Sources Poses Mesothelioma Risk

Study Finds Low-Level Exposure to Asbestos from Rocks and Other Natural Sources Poses Mesothelioma Risk: "Study Finds Low-Level Exposure to Asbestos from Rocks and Other Natural Sources Poses Mesothelioma Risk
Date Published: October 18, 2005
Source: Newsinferno News Staff
According to a study published in the second issue of the October 2005 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the American Thoracic Society, Californians who live near naturally occurring asbestos sources and who are exposed to low levels of the mineral are at increased risk for developing malignant mesothelioma, a serious cancer of the membrane covering the lung.
Dr. Marc B. Schenker, of the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, at the University of California, Davis, and four associates, examined 2,908 malignant mesothelioma cases reported from 1988 to 1997.
Over 50% of the men and 58% of the women, all of whom were listed in the California Cancer Registry, either had no or little exposure to occupational asbestos at the workplace.
�People who lived closer to an asbestos source had a greater chance of having mesothelioma, and the chance decreased steadily as the distance increased,� said Dr. Schenker.
Mesothelioma is considered to be rare. It usually develops 30 to 40 years after exposure. The only known cause of the disease is exposure to asbestos fibers, which can cause tumors in the pleura, the two layers of membrane covering the lung, or, with more intense exposure, in membranes of the abdomen.
According to the study authors, California has more naturally occurring asbestos source rocks than any other state in the U.S.
Previous studies all point to occupational exposure to asbestos as the cause of mesothelioma. But population-based studies, Dr Schenker says, have almost all showe"

Progress the Highlight of Second International Mesothelioma Symposium: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Progress the Highlight of Second International Mesothelioma Symposium: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "Press ReleaseSource: Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

Progress the Highlight of Second International Mesothelioma Symposium
Wednesday October 19, 5:00 am ET
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh evidence of progress in the diagnosis and treatment of an aggressive asbestos-related cancer was the highlight of the Second International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma last week. Long considered lethal, meso is a tumor that invades the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testicles. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) organizes the annual symposium, held this year in Las Vegas Nevada, to unite the meso community and focus on curing the disease.
ADVERTISEMENT


Advances in detection, multimodal treatment, gene therapy, and immunotherapy were among the topics that thrilled the audience. Ann Ferrero, whose mother was diagnosed with meso a year ago, admitted that 'Last year my entire family reeled from the shock.' The information presented at the symposium, however, left her feeling -- in her own words, 'moved, grateful ... and, dare I say ... hopeful!'
The symposium is unique in that it brings together doctors, researchers, advocates, meso patients and families to learn from each other and exchange research results, study findings, and review progress. MARF Director of Communications, and 4 year pleural meso survivor, Klaus Brauch, stated that 'the most important sign of progress for me was that we are now talking about second-line treatments, something of great interest to those of us concerned about recurrences. A few years ago just surviving first-line treatment was an achievement.' MARF, which has awarded over two million dollar"