Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Air Pollution, the Leading Cause of Various Disease Worldwide

There is sound facts starting hundreds of the studies conducted worldwide which polluted air has unfavorable effects on health. The air pollution affects ranges from mild respiratory frustration to minor lung cancer and various cardiovascular diseases. In various developing nation, where the air quality is often poor, the link among air pollution along with health is often understandable. The recent study by California Department of the Health Services indicates that the industrial air pollutants might raise the risk of the autism by 50 percent in most of young children and also unborn babies.

The account was available online in the various journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Whereas In China the air excellence in numerous cities is consequently bad that just breathing is the equal as smoking a set of cigarettes every day plus respiratory disease as of the air pollution are the leading source of death. When ask to sketch the sky, a lot of Chinese children prefer a yellow or gray crayon.

However, in most of the places all over the world, where the sky is generally blue, along with air excellence improved considerably in current years, the association among the air pollution and the health is to amount clear. There is extensive debate on whether the air quality is at present threatening the physical condition of people all over the world. Some researchers are pronouncing evidence of the serious health problems as of increasingly small contamination particles. Well in most of the reviews the outcome of a number of air pollution evidence, result that the "community death rates mount and fall almost in lock-step by way of local changes of the tiny dust particles—also when the attentiveness of those element are presently one-quarter of the centralized limit for the outdoor air." though, other researchers quarrel that there is no systematic evidence for such assert, and challenge that the air pollution is not a dilemma in the United States. The Gregg Easterbrook, of the Brookings organization, an organization dedicated to research and psychoanalysis of the public policy, condition that the quality of the world air is so high-quality that it must be "a national basis for celebration."

The Disagreements on whether the air pollution is at present threatening the people all over the world. Health fuel the discussion over how the air quality should be synchronized. The Emissions reductions may be extremely luxurious for the industry and, eventually, the consumer. The Regulatory agencies all face the complicated task of weighing the possible health remuneration of the regulation next to the costs to the industry and result the most pleasing balance among the two.

About the Author:
Bishal Boro
I have been writing on health and various medicines for various sites till this date, and would like to write more on various environmental and people based topics in future. to know more about air pollution and its effects on human click onto http://www.healthylifelearning.com/ http://www.healthylivingabout.com/
Posted: 11-08-2006
Article Source: www.ArticlesBase.com

Monday, November 06, 2006

Chemicals and Cancer

Introduction
Chemical exposure and cancer date back several thousand years. The famous occupational physician, Ramazzini, was one of the first to describe examples of occupationally-induced cancers.

In the last 20 years, benzene has been shown to be a carcinogenic agent causing leukemias, lymphomas, and other hematological cancers. Other chemicals, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, asbestos, and hexavalent chromium, have been shown to be carcinogenic.

The observation that despite reduction in cigarette consumption, despite reduction in fatty food consumption and despite improved screening procedures, cancers of the lung, breast, and blood system is on the rise and is by and large attributed to a combination of environmental chemical factors imposed on the genetic makeup of the individual.

I. Causation - Definition
Causation, meaning cause and effect, is one of the most important and complex duties a forensic-medicolegal examiner has to establish. As physicians practicing medicine, we have been trained to think etiology of a disease which does not necessarily mean causation. The training in medical school, internship residency and fellowship always addressed etiology synonymously with causation, but we were not taught the practical meaning of the word causation.

The medical scientific community has been struggling with this issue of causation since the early days of Paracelsus. The first criteria for causation were established by Henle and Koch when Henle and his students, including Koch, studied cholera in the 1880's. These criteria have changed through the years undergoing natural evolution. With new discoveries, Henle and Koch's criteria were no longer valid for viruses and cancers. In the 1960's Sir Bradford-Hill, who studied the cancerous effects of cigarettes, nickel and others, presented his aspects to establish medical causation. These criteria have been endorsed to some extent by the scientific community and utilized in occupational medicine and medical toxicology.(1) For more details visit www.environmentaldiseases.com.

About the Author:
Dr. Nachman Brautbar, M.D is a board-certified internist and nephrologist, with a specialization in toxicology.For more details go to http://www.environmentaldiseases.com.
Added: 11 Nov 2005
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/16253.html

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Just How Dangerous is Asbestos?

With the increase in the number of lung cancer cases in recent years, it is vitally important to educate ourselves on the risks and consequences of asbestos exposure which accounts for over 80% of all mesothelioma cancer cases; a form of cancer, caused by asbestos exposure, that can affect the lungs (Pleural form), abdomen (Peritoneal form), and even the membrane around the heart.. A hefty 2000 new cases are being diagnosed every year according to the National Cancer Institute, and that number is on the rise. This leaves the question to be asked...

Just how dangerous is asbestos exposure?

Significant exposure to any type of asbestos will increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, including asbestosis, pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and pleural effusions. This is based on observations of these diseases in groups of workers with cumulative exposures ranging from about 5 to 1,200 fiber-year/mL. The conclusion is supported by results from animal and mechanistic studies.

Tobacco smokers who have been exposed to asbestos have a "far greater-than-additive" risk for lung cancer than do nonsmokers who have been exposed, meaning the risk is greater than the individual risks from asbestos and smoking added together. The time between diagnosis of mesothelioma and the time of initial occupational exposure to asbestos commonly has been 30 years or more.

Asbestos Facts:

1. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, most fibers are expelled, but some can become lodged in the lungs and remain there throughout life. Fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation. Enough scarring and inflammation can affect breathing, leading to disease.

2. People are more likely to experience asbestos-related disorders when they are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos, are exposed for longer periods of time, and/or are exposed more often.

3. Inhaling longer, more durable asbestos fibers (such as tremolite and other amphiboles) contributes to the severity of asbestos-related disorders.

4. Exposure to asbestos, including tremolite, can increase the likelihood of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung conditions such as asbestosis (restricted use of the lungs due to retained asbestos fibers) and changes in the lung lining.

5. Changes in the lining of the lungs (pleura) such as thickening, plaques, calcification, and fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) may be early signs of asbestos exposure. These changes can affect breathing more than previously thought. Pleural effusion can be an early warning sign for mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs).

6. Most cases of asbestosis or lung cancer in workers occurred 15 years or more after the person was first exposed to asbestos.

7. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after the first exposure to asbestos.

8. Mesothelioma has been diagnosed in asbestos workers, family members, and residents who live close to asbestos mines.

9. Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped.

10. Smoking or cigarette smoke, together with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of asbestosis can include:

Shortness of breath which is the primary symptom

A persistent and productive cough (a cough that expels mucus)

Chest tightness

Chest pain Loss of appetite

A dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling.

If you suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your physician immediately and discuss your level of exposure. Early detection of mesothelioma increases your chances immeasurably.

You can get more information about mesothelioma and find helpful information and resources here: http://rarereviews.com/mesothelioma-cancer

About the author:
Mike Andrews is a research specialist who writes informative and news worthy articles for public distribution. These works stand to improve public relations and brand identity for the companies they represent.
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