Every year, mesothelioma victims, researchers, and advocates mark the first week of April as Asbestos Awareness Week. The global event is aimed at educating the public about the dangers of asbestos, to lobby for a global ban, and to ensure that people are aware of the need to avoid the mineral in order to protect themselves from the dire health consequences of exposure.
Asbestos is the Cause of Malignant Mesothelioma and Many Other Serious Illnesses
Asbestos is a mineral that has been used for centuries, but in the last fifty years it has become clear that it causes malignant mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. People who worked in trades that made frequent use of the material – including construction workers, shipyard workers, and electricians – developed debilitating and deadly symptoms decades after having been exposed.
When it became clear that asbestos was directly linked to mesothelioma, its use in the United States was severely curtailed. Though most Americans believe that its use has been banned, efforts on behalf of the asbestos and chemical industries prevented the United States from putting a total ban in place. Some European countries have managed to ban the material, but it remains lethal through much of the world, and its deadly effects continue to be seen.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2022: One Word. One Week. One World.
In the United States, Asbestos Awareness Week is established by official recognition of the Senate, and in 2022 the global celebration has adopted the theme of Asbestos: One Word. One Week. One World. The goals for 2022 include:
- Banning the mining, manufacturing and use of asbestos
- Preventing asbestos exposure
- Increasing compliance and enforcement of existing laws and regulations
- Strengthening international partnerships
The Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net support the efforts of the global community to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. For more information, contact us at 1-800-692-8608.
