Saturday, October 3, 2009

Connection of Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Asbestos has been praised throughout history because it is fire resistant, strong, and versatile. Ancient Romans wove asbestos fibers into napkins and tablecloths, and merely threw them into a fire to clean them. Even at this primitive stage in human history, many noted that those who were exposed to asbestos suffered terrible breathing problems and general ill health, but lacked the ability to properly diagnose the condition. Thousands of years later, asbestos was used again by metal and ceramic workers to protect themselves from the hazards of their professions. Also, because fire was a constant danger, the Industrial Revolution of the 19th and early 20th centuries used asbestos to safeguard factories and products at the cost of the health of the workers. After a time, asbestos became integral to thousands of products as diverse as brake shoes, cement, insulation, and even oven mitts. Proliferation of this vital but dangerous material threatened the lives of millions.

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