The environment includes all non-living and living things that occur on earth naturally. Such things include weather, climate, and natural resources that influence economic activities and human survival. The environment is affected negatively by several issues that include pollution, diseases, earthquakes and floods. Now and then organizations preach on environmental conservation but very few pay attention. Many people do not consider themselves environmentalists.
There are several environmental effects that have occurred in different areas over the years. For example, Ebola in West Africa, that is an epidemic that has killed many people. The United States of America experienced hurricane Katrina. Diseases also are classified as environmental epidemics. From all kinds of diseases, airborne, water bone, vector bone, once a disease is suspected, it should be handled seriously.
Georgia is located in the South of United States. It is considered the largest state to the east of Mississippi river. The state climate is humid and subtopic. Georgia is quite vulnerable to hurricanes. It has a high population of about 9,992,168 people in 2013. It consists of 159 counties each having their rules and regulations. It is a state with a stable economy and highly educated people. Healthcare in Georgia is well taken care of since there are 151 general hospitals and over 15,000 doctors.
One environmental epidemic that affected the state of Georgia is Mesothelioma. This cancer develops from mesothelium cells in the body. Many people that develop mesothelioma worked in sites that were exposed to asbestos dust. Research shows that washing clothes belonging to a family member who worked with asbestos is a possible risk for developing mesothelioma (Greillier and Astoul, 45). There seems to be a relation between tobacco smoking and mesothelioma. This cancerous disease has various symptoms that include difficulty breathing, weight loss and pains in the chest. Although such cancers are common to men, women and children are also affected. At its severe stages, it leads to death.
Mesothelioma is one serious problem in the state of Georgia. This problem is due to the many asbestos industries and also due to geology. This state contains several naturally occurring deposits of asbestos (Harvey, Vogelzang, and Carbone 12). There are mesothelioma clinics in Georgia whereby people go if they believe they have been exposed to asbestos. The government came conducted research and came up with a list of cities where asbestos job sites are located. Such cities include Atlanta, Griffin, Dublin, and Cartersville among others. If anyone worked at any of those companies, there are possibilities that they may have been exposed to asbestos that eventually causes mesothelioma.
Industrial exposure in Georgia was majorly at one of the large generation facilities located through the state. The number of deaths caused by asbestos cancer in Georgia was estimated to be 538 in the last two decades. In the 538 that died from asbestos cancer, almost 60% of these were from mesothelioma. Many casualties were in the urbane areas of Georgia and rare in the rural counties. Health organizations also conducted researches and listed job sites that were likely to have been exposed to high levels of asbestos. The exposure to asbestos put them at risk for developing some of this asbestos-related diseases; asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma and pleural mesothelioma.
The other disease asbestosis is a chronic lung condition also caused by long exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a term for minerals made of tiny fibers widely used in construction. Asbestos is very dangerous and if not disturbed it does not present a health risk. However, if material containing asbestos is drilled, broken, or chipped and allowed to deteriorate, then it contains asbestos fibers. When that dust is breathed in, asbestos fibers enter the lungs and can damage them over time. In order for asbestosis to develop, prolonged exposure to high numbers of the fibers is necessary.
Asbestosis has several symptoms that include a persistent cough, wheezing, fatigue, chest pains and in severe cases swollen fingertips. Most people diagnosed with the disease were exposed several years ago, since there were no effective controls on exposure to asbestos fibers in workplaces (Tim, Sporn, Roggli 315). There is no known cure for asbestosis. Infected people are advised to stop smoking because if they smoke, conditions get worse and increase the risk of lung cancer. Treatments such as oxygen therapy can help improve the life quality of a person with asbestosis. Patients with asbestosis are at a risk of developing other serious life threatening conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and pleural disease (Alberta, Odom pg. 34).
Georgia is a mineral rich area with mineral operations occurring over the years. This factor makes it possible for diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis to occur. People diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestosis can claim compensation. This compensation is possible through a civil claim via the courts, industrial injuries disablement benefit and a claim for a lump compensation sum under pneumoconiosis act (Paul 11). These compensations include weekly benefits paid to asbestosis people who were exposed while in employment. It is quite a relief though to realize that these patients are compensated. It is clear that these diseases are all caused by environmental factors. Therefore, it is important that governments take necessary control measures to take care of environmental factors that can be hazardous (Paul 19). For example, Georgia lawyers provide valuable legal assistance. Job sites that are risky have also closed since they are putting people’s lives in danger. Other countries should emulate this when it comes to dealing with environmental epidemics.A survey on these diseases is important. This assists in knowing how control measures can be done. Questions that are likely to be included in the survey are among the following;
Have you ever heard of asbestos caused diseases?
Do you know someone that was affected by mesothelioma or asbestosis?
Are you aware of signs and symptoms of these diseases?
In case you came across a patient suffering from any of these diseases, would you offer appropriate help?
Do you think the government has addressed these issues in an effective manner?
Have you had a relative that died of these diseases, if so were they properly compensated? How many job sites do you know that are a threat in terms of asbestos fiber?
Do you think the health facilities in your state can deal with environmental epidemics?
How safe is the environment we live in today?
Do you take necessary precautions in your day to day life?
In conclusion, mesothelioma and asbestosis are dangerous and having killed several thousands of people in Georgia. Then something needs to be done about the environment people work. Environmental activists should also provide awareness on issues affecting the environment.
Works Cited
Berton, Alberta D, and K B. Odom. Asbestosis: A Comprehensive Bibliography. New York:
IFI/Plenum, 1980. Print.
Dust Diseases Board. A guide to compensation. Accessed 15 Nov. 2014, <www.ddb.nsw.gov.au/Documents/DDBPublications/BookDDBGuide.pdf>.
Greillier Lay and Astoul Paul. Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Pleural Diseases.
Respiration 2008:76:-15. Print.
Kraus, Paul. Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide. Raleigh, N.C:
Cancer Monthly, 2005. Print.
Pass, Harvey I, Nicholas Vogelzang, and Michele Carbone. Malignant Mesothelioma: Advances
in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Translational Therapies. New York: Springer, 2005.
Oury, Tim D, Thomas A. Sporn, and Victor L. Roggli. Pathology of Asbestos-Associated
Diseases. London: Little, Brown and Company. 2014. Print.
