Due to some recently revealed studies, the Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists (FLASS) are bringing you a special environmental alert!
Millions of U.S. workers have an incurable lung disease from inhaling crystalline silica into their lungs every day.
Many more of them, here and around the world, do not know they have the disease or understand they are in danger.
“Exposure to crystalline silica (CS) is common to a variety of industrial operations including mining, quarrying, sandblasting, rock drilling, road construction, pottery making, stone masonry, and tunneling operations.”
A Special Alert from Florida Lung Asthma and Sleep Specialists!
Constant exposure often results in “silicosis” and certain kinds of lung cancer. In case you have not heard very much about silicosis, you should know it is a very debilitating disease.
Currently, silicosis is almost an epidemic around the globe. Whereas we know of two million Americans who suffer with it, there are ten million people suffering from this irreversible, incurable disease.
What Causes Silicosis?
Many doctors blame rapid industrialization and construction for this problem. It is also exacerbated by poorly regulated or unhealthy working environments, especially in developing countries. So, civilization and industrialization are the causes. Much work remains to be done in advocacy and education to regulate the processes that are required to avoid exposing workers unnecessarily to lung health risks.
Meanwhile, with the cause known, treatment options are being studied by research scientists. Recently, research at the University Of Louisville, Kentucky has uncovered a crucial connection which associates silicosis and lung cancer with the environmental silica exposure.
FLASS congratulates Haribabu Bodduluri, Ph.D., who is a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University, as well as a researcher in the James Graham Brown Cancer Center. He and his team accomplished several goals:
1. They made the crucial connection between exposure to inhaled silica, silicosis, and amazingly rapid progression of lung cancers.
“Silicosis keeps progressing post-exposure because people are unable to cough up the tiny particles. Macrophages that ingest silica particles end up dying, resulting in persistent sterile inflammation and may eventually lead to lung cancer.”
2. They have detailed “the critical role of the inflammatory mediator LTB4 and its receptor BLT1 in promoting silica mediated lung tumor growth.”
3. The research might yield some new treatment for both silicosis and lung cancers because, within the studies, mice deficient in leukotriene B4 receptor BLT1 “were significantly protected from silica induced tumor promotion…” Learn more about the leukotriene connection at this informative online source.
Dr. Haribabu stated, “We believe this is a significant step in our understanding of how environmental exposure alters the way lung cancer progresses,” Bodduluri said. “It is our hope that this new information will allow for the more rapid development of treatments for this currently incurable disease.”
Check out more meticulous details at this online resource.
Meanwhile, be aware: The Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists warn you not to inhale crystalline silica; it’s a known carcinogen, plus the certain danger of silicosis!
Asthma Awareness in May!
Also, FLASS reminds you that May is asthma awareness month. Check out information about the air where you live! Learn about the myths and the truths about this disease at this reliable site.