Who Discovered Mesothelioma?
In this day and age, occupational health and safety standards are an essential component within any legitimate manufacturing environment, though this has not always been the case. The discovery and identification of mesothelioma as a distinct occupational hazard took over 60 years to be established. This article will cover the historical background surrounding mesothelioma, and the protections that have been put in place for those who contract this condition.
Identification
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers are sharp and large, making it difficult for the lungs to expel them. Once ingested and trapped inside, fiber edges are able to cut and penetrate lung tissues. As a result, malignant cells begin to form inside the lung and chest membrane linings. Mesothelium soon develops, a condition in which membrane linings covering all organs of the body become cancerous. Eventually, fluid begins to build up in the lungs, chest cavity and abdomen.
People who develop this disease have most likely worked in jobs where asbestos materials were present, or have been exposed to these dust and fiber elements through contact with someone who works in an asbestos environment. Frequent contact with materials, or products containing asbestos can also cause illness. Symptoms of mesothelioma include:
shortness of breath
chest wall pain
weight loss
continuous coughing
abdominal pain, in some cases
This disease is reported to be the deadliest of all work-related respiratory illnesses in United States history. Corporations are reported to have been aware of the hazards and risks involved with asbestos exposure since the 1920's.
History
The first description of mesothelioma was documented in 1870 by a physician named E. Wagner, however it is believed to have been recognized as early as 1767 in a report made by Joseph Lieutaud, a personal physician to King Louis XVI. Modern medical researchers believe the two cases described by Lieutaud were that of malignant mesothelioma. As of 1897, physicians were able to link asbestos as a cause of respiratory-type diseases.
The first published case appeared in the British Medical Journal, authored by W.E. Cooke in 1924. It was identified as "pulmonary asbestosis," a condition in which the pleura -the membrane that covers the lungs and chest- filled with fluid. Inhaling asbestos fibers was stated to be the cause of the disease, which helped to distinguish it from the coal mining related diseases. By 1931, researchers had identified both benign and malignant forms of the disease, however doubts still lingered as to whether, or not asbestos exposure was the cause.
Features
Asbestos factories in Great Britain in the early 1900's and asbestos mining operations in South Africa in the 1940's drew the most attention in terms of bringing the truth regarding mesothelioma into public view. The increasing number of cases involving lung disease among factory workers in Great Britain forced the British government to commission a study in 1930. Similar occurrences within the South African asbestos mines required the South African government to commission the first chest and infectious disease hospital to treat its workers.
In 1959, Chris Wagner, a medical researcher, a Dr. Sleggs, and a researcher named Ian Webster presented a case study done on factory and coal mine workers to the international conference in Johanannesburg, South Africa proving asbestos as causative link. From there on scores of research studies and reports began to surface citing asbestos-exposures as the cause of mesothelioma. In response to public concerns, mining industry officials refused to investigate the claims, but rather discredited the reports that were made. No mines, or factories were closed during this time. It wasn't until 1979 that the first lawsuit was filed against a segment of the manufacturing industry in Great Britain. The Asbestos Diseases Society formed that same year to represent the victims in the lawsuit.
Time Frame
The incubation period for mesothelioma can range anywhere between 20 to 50 years, which is the amount of time that can pass between when a person is exposed to asbestos and when the first signs or symptoms develop. This aspect of the disease played a large part in the difficulty early physicians encountered when trying to prove their case. Industries that relied heavily on asbestos manufacturing were able to use this aspect of the disease to their advantage. As this was a profitable industry at the time, the incentives to ignore claims regarding an asbestos-related disease were prevalent. Employers are reported to have gone so far as to conspire to keep these medical findings concealed from the employees who worked in their factories.
Effects
Because of the gross negligence displayed by the industry at large, people who've contracted mesothelioma, or asbestos-related illnesses are entitled to file a legal claim against any manufacturer, seller, or installer of asbestos products. Also eligible, are spouses and family members who've had frequent contact with an individual who's worked within an at-risk environment.
Asbestos-based products such as floor tiles, roofing materials, cements, brake linings and many others may also be suspect when considering the cause of an asbestos-related illness. Due to mesothelioma's long incubation period, it may be difficult to track where and when such an exposure took place. Support organizations and legal firms who specialize in mesothelioma cases are available to assist with determining the cause and conditions surrounding past exposures to the material.
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