Benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde and diesel particulate matter. These are the airborne assassins.
According to a combined study funded by Houston Endowment who funded the study in response to reports of poor air quality, and released by Rice University, an immediate action to lower the ambient concentrations of the four hazardous air pollutants is desperately needed.

The level of air toxins concentration in the Houston area poses a dangerously high risk of cancer and other health problems to the residents, said the chief investigator, Matt Fraser. The ultimate goal of the report is the adoption of enforceable ambient air quality standards for which only one more person in a million would be expected to develop cancer from a lifetime of exposure to individual hazardous air pollutants.The report estimates that if one million people were exposed to the current level over their lifetime, between 50 and 1,000 would contract cancer.

He added that observed concentrations of 1,3-butadiene and diesel PM have approached a level indicating a risk greater than one additional cancer death per 10,000 people during a lifetime of exposure.
Benzene and 1,3-butadiene are products of petrochemical present in motor exhaust, its exposure leads to an increased risk of cancer, leukeumia as well as noncarcinogenic effects which includes decreased blood cell counts.Formaldehyde is a gas formed through atmospheric chemical reactions and also emitted from various sources. Inhalation causes degenerative effects and nasal tumors in laboratory animals and similar risks are anticipated in humans. Diesel particulate matter originates from widespread sources, including vehicles, engines and generators. A high concentration in the air we breathe will put us again at high risk of cancer.

What are the consequences? World Health organization data indicate that about 240,000 people die each year from respiratory causes in United States. Globally, some 7.7 million people die from respiratory causes. It is a clear and present danger.

Findings in the journal Science published that clear sky visibility over land has decreased globally over the past 30 years. This is again indicative of increases in aerosols and airborne pollution which also corelates with climate changes. Aerosols are solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in air. They include soot, dust and sulphur dioxide particles. Aerosols come from combustion of fossil fuels, industrial processes, and biomass burning of tropical rainforests. They are hazardous to both human human and the environment.

Try running your finger over your car after taking a trip in a congested traffic. You would not want those soot lining the walls of your lungs.Long term exposure to ground-level ozone, a major component of smog is associated with an increased risk of death from respiratory.

Is this just an unnecessary and overrated health scare? Apparently, there are strong parallels between this and the asbestos situation of the 1970s. In the 1970s, the US government stepped in to ban asbestos related products in America. However, much before this, the hazards of asbestos were researched and documented. They were comfirmed a health hazard since the 1930s. However, as the asbestos companies were unwilling to lose their source of revenue, they tried to cover up their acts at every stage of the investigation. This was possible in part due to the fact that most of the asbestos related diseases have a very long latency period sometimes, even up to 40 years.The companies used this to their advantage to maxmise their profits before the situation turns against them. At every stage, the asbestos companies tried to cover up their acts. They tried to bribe officials and threaten researchers to give up all studies on the hazards of asbestos. In spite of all this, several civic minded medical professionals and research organizations brought out the reports highlighting the terrible health problems caused by exposure to asbestos.

It was only in the 1970s action was taken to reduce asbestos exposure. In 1973, it was stated that spray-on asbestos insulation is an air pollution hazard. Then, the EPA banned spray-on asbestos insulation. Further, in the end of 1970s, information began to surface that asbestos companies and industrialists covered up the hazards of asbestos and suppressed valuable information. The power of commerce ruled over civic reasons. With so much smog caused by petrochemicals we cannot help but notice similarities.

Our lungs are moist layers of tissues somewhat like a wet sponge, soaking up whatever we breathe in. With all these pollutants in the air, what are the chances of not filling up our lungs with these harmful chemicals? Apart from wearing 'gas mask', the odds are much against us. We have little chance of not taking in all these harmful chemical pollutants.

Our only defense will be to flush out all the contaminants that we breathe in before it forms poisonous deposits throughout the various thousands of tissues all through our body, which will certainly over time cause sickness and diseases. This can be achieved by harnessing nature's protective agents and using selective tried and tested combination, put them to good use. An inexpensive, safe and effective method that will save us before we succumb to the poison in the air. One way is to increase the amount of oxygen intake.

Author has written many articles on health and nutrition. His area of passion is in alternative medicine and medical breakthroughs. Having seen good friends suffer because of years of neglect and now living a life of regrets, he is constantly on the lookout for ways to help them dig themselves out of the rut. http://www.interlinkmerchants.com/diabetes2.html

In the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, determined, following years of evidence pointing in that direction, that asbestos was harmful to the environment because it was very harmful to people. When this happened, the EPA also passed regulations pertaining to acceptable means of monitoring vermiculite mines for asbestos contamination and a variety of other rules. In addition to the EPA's rules, there are rules from other agencies of the federal and state governments that impose regulations on companies.

When a company violates the rules of the EPA, OSHA, or another organization, that company is likely to be fined damages and is then expected to clean up its act, literally. These fines, depending on the violation, can be quite hefty. The problems that the EPA or other group has with the company could require extremely costly changes to be made to the company.

While these fines are seen as sufficient punishment sometimes, there are other times when the EPA and OSHA are unable to determine exactly how much money the company owes the government and the area it polluted for the costs of cleanup and other dangers. In situations like this, the EPA or OSHA might ask the justice department to file charges against the company that grossly violated the rules of the regulatory agency. Some agencies are equipped with their own team of lawyers that can do the filing on their own. It usually varies based on the agency and the size of the problem.

Asbestos violations are a sort of violation that can result in criminal sanctions. This stuff is so deadly and harmful and difficult to get rid of that there have been instances where agencies have filed criminal sanctions against a company to punish it for polluting and endangering the lives of many. One such example is the lawsuit that is currently pending against the company that operated a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana. The company, according to the allegations, knew about the asbestos in the mine and apparently did nothing to help its employees stay protected from the harms.

As a result of the pollution of the city, more than 2,600 people have visited a clinic in the town devoted to asbestos-related diseases. The town's current population is only about 2,600 as it is.

If a company has criminal sanctions imposed, the company, like any defendant, will likely ask for a plea bargain of some sort. This will allow the company to have some say in its fines and punishment rather than leaving things to the whim and caprice of a jury and judge.

Williams Kherkher is a Houston-based law firm that focuses on securing compensation for the victims of mesothelioma and asbestos.

Joseph Devine

Asbestos is deadly chemical, and it is still used in the United States. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has successfully done its part to reduce asbestos use and consumption, the presence of some asbestos in the United States is, as of now, inevitable. Similarly, the use of asbestos in the world, for now, is inevitable. Asbestos is a very useful chemical, and if it is used in limited amounts the likelihood of it causing a disease falls.

In the United States, although asbestos use and consumption has fallen, it is still notable. In 2007, 1,820 of asbestos were imported and used here, while in 2006 2,230 tons were. Additionally, U.S. exports of asbestos fell to 1,089 tons in 2007 from 3,410 tons in 2006. Because the United States does not produce any of its own (it ceased mining and domestic production of asbestos in 2002), it imports all the asbestos it needs. The vast majority (86%) of the U.S.'s asbestos imports comes from Canada, while the remaining comes from other countries. 84% of imported asbestos is used for roofing purposes, while the other 16% is put to other uses. The only type used in the U.S. is chyrsotile. The federal government does not have any stockpiles of asbestos

Just as looking at U.S. statistics reveals low levels of usage, looking at world statistics also reveals low levels of usage. A number of countries have taken steps to ban asbestos. In 2008, South Korea began a process that would lead to a ban in 2009. New Caledonia has banned asbestos, and in 2011 all exemptions from the ban will end. Additionally, Canada's asbestos mining companies recently filed for bankruptcy.

Despite the fact that other nations are aware of asbestos's health hazards, many still continue to produce asbestos in large quantities. In 2006, Brazil produced 236 tons; in 2007 230 tons. In that same period, Canada's production fell from 244 to 185. China's production did not change, but Kazakhstan's production fell from 355 tons to 350 tons. Zimbabwe's production fell from 100 to 95 tons. Russia's production, however increased from 925 to 1,030 tons. The rest of the world's production fell from 100 to 45 tons. In sum, total world production fell from 2,300 tons in 2006 to 2,290 tons in 2007. Current estimates say that there are 200 million tons of asbestos still available.

Asbestos is a danger to people's health, but it will likely continue to be produced.

For more information on asbestos as well as on mesothelioma, contact the Houston mesothelioma attorneys Williams Kherkher by calling 1-800-220-9341 or be sending them a message.

Joseph Devine

Mesothelioma is a kind of lethal form of cancer for which mineral named asbestos is responsible. In other words people working with asbestos get contaminated and lose their life, for which the employer is responsible. In lieu of this, the victim is provided with compensation from the firm in Houston. But all this requires a Houston Mesothelioma Lawyer to present your case. It has been seen that people have got millions of dollars as compensation money but this requires your case to be very strong.

To make your success certain you must put your complete efforts to find the experienced lawyer. He must have comprehensive knowledge of mesothelioma, its harmful effects and its causes. You must share everything in your knowledge with him because; he prepares his case in advance. Sometimes he hires investigators to find more details about the case. To win the case he has to prove that the victim got exposed to asbestos at his work place only; therefore he must be given compensation. Houston has become commercial hub of United States and therefore, you can find many lawyers expert at this form of cancer here.

As soon as you diagnose your cancer as mesothelioma cancer, you should search a perfect lawyer first of all and file a case against the firm where you got exposed to asbestos. The complication with this disease is that the symptoms appear after 40 to 45 years and usually till the time patient comes to know about his illness, he is left with one to three years and in some cases five years of life. Therefore, in case if any of your family members has died of mesothelioma then also you can file the case for compensation money for his family in Houston.

You can also find some lawyers who charge their fee only after winning your case otherwise they do charge. That sort of Houston Mesothelioma Lawyer would be good for you, if you could find. You will not have to give anything from your pocket, whatever their charge is; you can give from compensation money. If you are also suffering from mesothelioma or any of your family members has died of this disease then file your case as soon as possible.

Christen Scott is passionate about writing and love to write over different topics. These days she is writing about Mesothelioma.