Asbestos News
Australian warns against dangers of asbestos exposure
Far too many people are intimately acquainted with the deadly consequences of asbestos exposure and one Australian man is trying to make sure that less people gain this knowledge.Graeme Madden contracted mesothelioma - a rare and deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos - as a result of the asbestos exposure he endured while working in the 1950s, according to the Manning River Times.
Madden reportedly worked with sheet metal and as an apprentice plumber. Such blue-collar professions often involved asbestos exposure as the naturally occurring substance was widely used as an insulator and flame retardant. The 71-year-old said that he was not protected from the asbestos.
"Nobody told us to wear masks, not until they discovered it was killing people," he told the news provider.
It was proven by the mid-1960s that exposure to asbestos could not only cause malignant mesothelioma, but asbestosis and lung cancer as well. Due to these deadly illnesses many countries around the world have banned the use of the substance.
Madden is warning people to be careful when working around their home as older dwellings often contain the material, meaning a do-it-yourself project could carry some hidden dangers.
1/4/12
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