Asbestos Lung Cancer - Asbestos Lawyer
Mesothelioma: Occupational and Enviornmental Medicine
My comments are being made on the behalf of the Art and Creative Materials Institute, a non-profit trade organization that represents the major manufacturers and importers of art materials in the United States. Talc is a common component of these art materials. I would like to address several issues discussed in the draft Report on Carcinogens: Background Document for Talc. Asbestiform and Non-Asbestiform. These comments are offered to the Report on Carcinogens Subcommittee with the expectation that this report can be strengthened if it addresses certain issues in more detail. I will comment on both on studies concerning both asbestiform and non- asbestiform talc.
Asbestiform Talc
Definition: The draft report discusses the definition of asbestiform fibers. It would be strengthened if it includes NIOSH's definition of these fibers:. NIOSH (Kullman, et al. 1995) defines asbestiform habit as:
"a specific type of mineral fibrosity in which the growth is primarily in one dimension and the crystals form naturally as long, flexible fibers. Fibers can be found in bundles that can be easily separated into smaller bundles or ultimately into fibrils."
This definition is important since many of the fibers in asbestiform talc are cleavage fragments. NIOSH's definition for asbestiform habit contrasts with their definition for the nonasbestiform habit :
"These minerals have . crystal habits where growth proceeds in two or three dimensions instead of one dimension. When milled, these minerals do not break into fibrils but rather into fragments resulting from cleavage along the two or three growth planes. Particles formed by the comminution of these minerals are referred to as cleavage fragments."
Mesothelioma Information
There are three types of mesothelioma asbestos: pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type, followed by peritoneal and pericardial mesotheliomas.
Asbestos lung cancer is sometimes confused with pleural mesothelioma. Asbestos lung cancer is a type of cancer of the lung, while pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer affecting the lining of the lung cavity. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, contact a mesothelioma attorney or asbestos lawyer to get information regarding your right to compensation.