Living in Montana has opened my eyes to the terrible disease of mesothelioma. While Montana is a rural state the total numbers of mesothelioma victims might be low but the percentage of population affected is large. Especially in Libby, Montana.
Asbestos in Libby, Montana
The Libby, Montana story is as tragic as stories come. Vermiculite mining began in the 1920s in Libby. Vermiculite is not harmful. The vermiculite that was mined from Libby was contaminated with asbestos, however. The mining activity released asbestos dust throughout the Libby area. It is estimated that 1200 of the 2100 people living in Libby, Montana have some sort of asbestos related disease. The mortality rate from asbestosis is 60 times higher in Libby than in other areas of the United States. Libby has been undergoing an E.P.A. Superfund clean-up for several years now.
Asbestos link to Mesothelioma
The mesothelium is the membrane that lines three of the body’s cavities. In the thoracic cavity the mesothelium is called the pleura. In the abdominal cavity the peritoneum, and the heart sac the pericardium. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is invariably fatal.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous substance. Asbestos was widely used through the 1970s in a number of different industries. Eighty to 90 percent of mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos exposure.
Asbestosis is precursor to Mesothelioma
Asbestosis happens when a person inhales asbestos particles. These particles become lodged in the lung tissue. The body tries to rid these particles from the lung but is unable because asbestos actually penetrates the lung tissue.
The bodies defense systems don’t give up, though. The continual attempt of asbestos removal and shielding healthy tissue from the invader eventually leads to increased inflammation, mucous and a stiffening of the lung tissue. This condition is called pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonary Fibrosis is a debilitating disease, in its own right. Pulmonary Fibrosis stiffens the lung thereby increasing the work of breathing. There is a loss of gas exchange capability, due to damaged areas being incapable of transferring gasses properly. A common characteristic of pulmonary fibrosis is the need for an ever increasing flow of oxygen. The only effective treatment is a complete lung transplant.
When cancer cells form in the Mesothelium
The most common mesothelioma is in the pleura. This accounts for about 70% of all cases. Benign mesothelioma also forms in the pleura and is the only form of mesothelioma in which the prognosis is favorable. Benign mesothelioma frequently is a precursor to future malignant development. Unfortunately, the prognosis is very poor in any diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.
The way in which asbestos causes mesothelioma is unclear. The relationship is undeniable though. In any case, the best protection is avoidance of asbestos materials.
In the second part of this series, I will look at symptoms and treatment options.
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Living in Montana has opened my eyes to the terrible disease of mesothelioma. While Montana is a rural state the total numbers of mesothelioma victims might be low but the percentage of population affected is large. Especially in Libby, Montana.
Asbestos in Libby, Montana
The Libby, Montana story is as tragic as stories come. Vermiculite mining began in the 1920s in Libby. Vermiculite is not harmful. The vermiculite that was mined from Libby was contaminated with asbestos, however. The mining activity released asbestos dust throughout the Libby area. It is estimated that 1200 of the 2100 people living in Libby, Montana have some sort of asbestos related disease. The mortality rate from asbestosis is 60 times higher in Libby than in other areas of the United States. Libby has been undergoing an E.P.A. Superfund clean-up for several years now.
Asbestos link to Mesothelioma
The mesothelium is the membrane that lines three of the body’s cavities. In the thoracic cavity the mesothelium is called the pleura. In the abdominal cavity the peritoneum, and the heart sac the pericardium. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is invariably fatal.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous substance. Asbestos was widely used through the 1970s in a number of different industries. Eighty to 90 percent of mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos exposure.
Asbestosis is precursor to Mesothelioma
Asbestosis happens when a person inhales asbestos particles. These particles become lodged in the lung tissue. The body tries to rid these particles from the lung but is unable because asbestos actually penetrates the lung tissue.
The bodies defense systems don’t give up, though. The continual attempt of asbestos removal and shielding healthy tissue from the invader eventually leads to increased inflammation, mucous and a stiffening of the lung tissue. This condition is called pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonary Fibrosis is a debilitating disease, in its own right. Pulmonary Fibrosis stiffens the lung thereby increasing the work of breathing. There is a loss of gas exchange capability, due to damaged areas being incapable of transferring gasses properly. A common characteristic of pulmonary fibrosis is the need for an ever increasing flow of oxygen. The only effective treatment is a complete lung transplant.
When cancer cells form in the Mesothelium
The most common mesothelioma is in the pleura. This accounts for about 70% of all cases. Benign mesothelioma also forms in the pleura and is the only form of mesothelioma in which the prognosis is favorable. Benign mesothelioma frequently is a precursor to future malignant development. Unfortunately, the prognosis is very poor in any diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.
The way in which asbestos causes mesothelioma is unclear. The relationship is undeniable though. In any case, the best protection is avoidance of asbestos materials.
In the second part of this series, I will look at symptoms and treatment options.