New Report Details the Human Cost of Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Millions of potential years of life lost due to asbestosis and mesothelioma
At this point, the dangers of asbestos exposure are well known, yet asbestos-related illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma continue to claim thousands of lives each year. A study was recently conducted with the aim of estimating the global burden of asbestos exposure in terms of potential years of life lost to these diseases.
Study Results
According to data collected by the World Health Organization, 128,015 people in 82 countries died of mesothelioma and 13,885 people in 55 countries died of asbestosis between 1994 and 2010. Applying the established Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) standard, the researchers concluded that mesothelioma cut a collective total of 2.18 million potential years of life from the population, while asbestosis robbed a total of 180,000 potential years of life. This works out to an average of 17 PYLL for mesothelioma victims and 13 PYLL for asbestosis sufferers. The researchers plan to use the results of this study to increase awareness of the huge benefit that can be gained by eliminating asbestos exposure as a health risk.
Sources of Asbestos… READ MORE →
CDC Report Highlights Lead Exposure as an Ongoing Concern
Learn how to protect yourself and your family from lead poisoning
A recent edition of the CDC’s weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlighted the presence of very high blood lead levels in American adults. These adults had blood lead levels up to six times the amount considered unhealthy by the EPA and CDC, mostly due to occupational exposure. Lead poisoning is also a problem in children, and the CDC estimates that at least half a million children under age 6 have unacceptable blood lead levels.
Though the overall number of cases of elevated blood lead levels has been decreasing over the past decade, there are concerns that the numbers could be skewed. The data does not account for employers who may fail to provide or report OSHA-mandated lead testing for workers, for adults who do not get tested because their exposure is non-occupational, and for labs that may fail to report all testing.
One of the Healthy People 2020 Objectives designated by the Department of Health and Human Services is to reduce the number of…
California Asbestos Lawsuit Ended with $27.3 Million Award
This past June, a jury awarded $27.3 million to an Oakland couple affected by workplace asbestos exposure
One June 5, 2013 a jury awarded a total of $27,342,500 to Rose-Marie and Martin Grigg as damages for Mrs. Griggs’ asbestos-related mesothelioma.
The source of Mrs. Grigg’s exposure was her husband’s work clothes. Mr. Grigg worked as an insulator and used Owens-Illinois, Inc.’s Kaylo brand insulation products as part of his job from 1950 to 1958. When Mrs. Grigg shook the dust out of her husband’s clothes in the course of doing his laundry, she unknowingly released clouds of asbestos fibers into the air. As she did this regularly for many years, dangerous amounts of asbestos fibers became lodged in her lungs, ultimately causing mesothelioma.
Many lawsuits have been brought against employers and manufacturers who knowingly exposed their workers and/or the public to asbestos. Even though the dangers of asbestos were not widely publicized prior to the 1970s, evidence suggesting that asbestos caused life-threatening illnesses was gathered as early as 1917, and by the 1930s major medical journals were…
READ MORE →Are Health Hazards Lurking in Your Home?
Don’t let common household health hazards put your family at risk—get help from AQHI Inc.
Homes are supposed to keep our families safe from the elements and from dangers posed by the outside world. However, in some cases buildings contain contaminants that actually make staying home a risky proposition. If you haven’t had your home inspected for asbestos, lead, and mold you may actually be putting your family at risk.
Asbestos
Asbestos is commonly found in homes built prior to the 1970s because it has amazing insulating properties and is fire-retardant. Unfortunately, asbestos also has alarming consequences for human health. When inhaled in large quantities or over an extended period of time, it can cause respiratory problems and even cancer. Asbestos can be found in thousands of household building materials, including popcorn ceilings, roofing felt, shingles, hot water pipe & tank insulation, flooring tile, and drywall joint compounds. In order to determine if this hazard is lurking in your home and keep your family safe, you need to get asbestos testing and asbestos remediation from an expert contractor…
READ MORE →When to Worry About Mold
Few types of mold are toxic, but that doesn’t mean you want them in your home! AQHI Inc. can help.
Mold is a very common indoor air contaminant. Out of the thousands and thousands of types of mold that exist, very few are toxic. Some molds, like penicillin, are actually beneficial. However, having any type of mold growing unchecked in your home or business can be a problem. You should always clean up mold when you find it, but you don’t need to really get worried unless one of these 4 scenarios applies:
The mold covers 3 square feet or more. In general, a small spot of mold is nothing to worry about. You can clean it up yourself, or, to be extra safe, you can throw out the material entirely. But if you have mold covering a very large area, you will need professional help from a mold remediation specialist like AQHI Inc.
The mold is located near your HVAC system. You may be tempted to ignore mold in out of the way areas like basements and attics. But if mold spores get into your HVAC…
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