Asbestos is a known carcinogen; and yet, it is a fairly widely used product. However, knowing its deadliness has resulted in protective gear being developed to protect those who must handle the product. In Part II of this series, four types of asbestos cancers (mesotheliomas) were briefly described. The most common type of asbestos cancer is pleural mesothelioma, a lung cancer.
For Baltimore, mesothelioma has proven deadly. Our largest employers, especially during and immediately after World War II, were Bethlehem Steel Corp, Eastern Stainless Steel Corp, and Glenn L. Martins. These companies made steel and built airplanes that required extensive use of asbestos products. Many, if not all, the employees at these manufacturing plants were exposed to asbestos fibers – either directly through handling the product, or secondary through the fibers on the workers clothing.
Second-hand exposure to asbestos has also proven to be deadly, much like the damage done by second-hand smoke. Other workers at manufacturing plants as well as workers’ family members were often exposed on a daily basis. Many family members, often the wives of the workers, have been exposed and infected with the disease through the simple process of doing the family laundry. Who knew that the deadly fibers from the asbestos products would lurk on the work clothes that were then handled by family members?
But these three large employers in Baltimore are not the sole source of mesothelioma. Many other workers handle various items in the course of their work that provide sufficient exposure to those microscopic fibers that decades down the road will have infiltrated the organ linings in their bodies which often results in asbestos cancers.
Plumbers are notorious in this respect. Many buildings wrap their water pipes, especially the hot water pipes. Careers involving air conditioning units, commercial electrical units as well as things like hot water heaters often contain asbestos or parts that contain these fibers. Again, who knew?
Who was ever told to wear a face mask while doing the family laundry?
While many wives of the steel workers have also developed asbestos cancer, primarily in the lungs, many of the workers’ children were also exposed through handling the laundry. Many of these “children” are now entering their ‘senior’ years and are at that ripe age where this ugly disease begins to raise its ugly head.
So, in answer to the complaints of some readers, there are many reasons why we need to continue to sponsor fundraisers to pay for research, better diagnostic tools and more effective treatments to save the lives of those who unknowingly and unwittingly were exposed to asbestos.
Will this cure all lung cancers? No.
Will we continue to see asbestos cancers? Unfortunately, YES!
(Related link: Surgeon General - Second Hand Smoke)
In Part IV, a look at information resources, treatments and treatment centers will be done.
If you would like to receive an email to notify you when new articles are posted to this page, please click the “subscribe” button above.
If you have questions, comments or stories to share leave them in the comment box below. Feel free to browse through other articles written by me on this Cancer-in-Baltimore page, or visit me at Environmental-News-in-Baltimore. Thank you.
Comments