Even as Canada continues to ignore the facts about asbestos and keeps claiming that the chrysotile form of asbestos is not dangerous, research is going on that hopes to show exactly how asbestos fibers cause diseases such as malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer. At Ohio University a study is underway that looks at how an asbestos fiber bonds with a human cell.

A new technology called atomic force microscopy allows researchers to “feel and observe what’s on molecular surfaces.” They are using this technology to study how long it takes a bond to form between an asbestos fiber and a cell—minutes, hours?—and to see what other processes get triggered when the touch first occurs and once the bond forms.

We like to think that asbestos exposure is a thing of the past since the US banned its use in commercial applications, but the fact is that asbestos is still around in old buildings and can easily be released with demolition or rehabbing. And according to the US Department of Labor, more than 1.3 million workers today are still being exposed to asbestos on the job. This study is first focusing on crocidolite, or blue asbestos, long considered the most damaging type because of its long, thin fiber shape.  Crocidolite is the type that was often used in cement pipes, especially those manufactured by Kubota-Voss and used in California. The hope of the research is to find a way to intervene somewhere in the process after exposure and prevent disease from developing in the exposed individual.

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, be sure to learn about your legal rights. If you want to learn more, a good source of information is www.mesothelioma-advice.org.   And remember, you’re not alone.  For additional legal assistance contact help@hendlerlaw.com or toll free at 800-443-6353.