By Faith Franz
Most of you visit this blog for Eric’s astrology posts, though you may know that Planet Waves has a focus on environmental issues as well. Eric has invited me to talk about a major environmental issue that could drastically change your future: asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that all of us will be exposed to at some point in our lives. The fibers are so prevalent in home products and in the environment that entirely avoiding exposure is impossible. People can be exposed to asbestos in insulation, tiles, soil and literally thousands of other products.
Most people will never notice any negative consequences of the exposure. However, a handful of people develop asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Fewer than 30 people out of every million are expected to develop mesothelioma each year. Similarly small numbers are projected for asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer. So what’s the secret to why some people develop asbestos-related diseases and others remain healthy? It’s not random, and it’s not fate.
A number of factors actually play a role:
• Dose of exposure – Exposure to large amounts of asbestos typically leads to a higher number of asbestos fibers in a person’s lungs. Someone with a high dose of exposure is more likely to get an asbestos-related disease than someone with a low dose of exposure. Yet, those with lower doses tend to develop mesothelioma, while those with higher doses have a tendency to develop asbestosis.