No. Asbestos is related to Mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the chest cavity around the lungs) and to lung cancer. It is not connected to and does not predispose to melanoma. Melanoma is caused by skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation, among other things.
Yes any exposure to asbestos can be dangerous if adequate precautions are not taken.
There are studies that link asbestos exposure with certain types of cancer. There are many class action lawsuits pertaining to this issue. Please seek medical assistance if you believe you could be affected by asbestos exposure.
Genetic alterations that could lead to cancer.
Some forms of asbestos are serpentine minerals. Therefore asbestos may be present in some serpentine mineral deposits and could them be an exposure issue while crushing serpentine. A mineralogist will be able to determine whether asbestos is present in any given serpentine deposit.
There are no released figures identifying the amount of asbestos that is needed to be inhaled to develop into a life threatening disease, It could be likened to Smoking, no one can tell you how many cigarettes you need to smoke to get lung cancer. One thing that is sure, the more frequent the exposure along with the quantity of asbestos breathed in during each exposure, the higher the risk.
Asbestos is a mineral, it is found in the natural environment in rock. It should have stayed there. Beginning in the 1930's and continuing on for more than four decades, asbestos companies decided to use this mineral in their products. Asbestos disease follows the trail of exposure. Asbestos disease is not limited to any one particular craft or trade. Asbestos has been unknowingly carried home on the clothes of workers resulting in disease among the wives who cleaned the clothes and their children. It is a sad commentary that tens of thousands of diseased people have paved the trail of asbestos exposure. During the time companies sold asbestos,
Being bitten by a dog as a child could predispose you to having a fear of dogs.
Asbestos in 'dust' form could cause cancer if the material is disturbed allowing fibers to become airborne and it is subsequently inhaled. However the likelihood for developing mesothelioma cancer from a one-time exposure event is very low. Most people who develop the cancer were exposed to the material over a prolonged period of time. If you do encounter 'dust' that you know or suspect might contain asbestos, its best not to disturb the material and contact a professional to clean the area.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that appears to primarily be caused by exposure to asbestos environmentally, occupationally or even second hand. You will not generally find asbestos on aircraft carriers, however workers in the shipyard are exposed to asbestos at times and it could be carried aboard the carrier on clothing and other supplies from the shipyard.
Both asbestosis and mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos fibres/dust. They are not contagious diseases but are caused by the ingestion/inhalation of the microscopic fibres/dust produced in the production and/or destruction of asbestos. It is extremely unlikely that you could catch either disease from just kissing.
Ultraviolet radiation (part of sunlight).
Asbestos diseases attorneys don't only represent clients who have developed malignant mesothelioma - a common form of cancer that attacks the lining of the body's internal organs and that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos - and they also represent clients who have developed other asbestos-related conditions. Although the vast majority of the diseases caused by exposure to asbestos can be classed as cancers, there is at least one that cannot be so categorized, and this condition is known as asbestosis. Asbestosis is generally described as the chronic inflammation of the lungs due to the long-term inhalation of asbestos fibers, and there is, unfortunately, no known cure for this condition. Lawyers who specialize in representing clients with asbestos-related conditions should therefore ensure that they are well versed in the legalities relating to causality regarding both asbestosis and the several types of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The types of cancer that are often caused by excessive exposure to asbestos - and in respect of which asbestos diseases attorneys must have an extremely thorough knowledge - include esophageal cancer, mesothelioma, laryngeal cancer and colon cancer. Malignant mesothelioma can, furthermore, affect several different organs, and patients who develop this debilitating condition could suffer from, for instance, cancer of the lining of the heart, the lining of the lungs or the lining of the abdomen. The primary responsibility of a firm of asbestos diseases attorneys is to determine whether or not parties who have developed either asbestosis or a form of asbestos-related cancer can sue their employers - or ex-employers - for exposing them to asbestos during the course of their employment. If it is indeed determined that the employees can sue, their attorneys will then assist with the formulation of a claim and with the calculation of damages. Although individual cases can be brought in this regard, asbestos diseases attorneys also often bring class action suits where groups of employees file suit together. In view of the above, firms of attorneys that specialize in representing parties harmed due to long-term exposure to asbestos need to have expert knowledge in the field in order to do their best for their clients.