Asbestos disease awareness organization là tổ chức gì năm 2024

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals with current or historical commercial usefulness due to their extraordinary tensile strength, poor heat conduction, and relative resistance to chemical attack. For these reasons, asbestos is used for insulation in buildings and as an ingredient in a number of products, such as roofing shingles, water supply lines, and fire blankets, as well as clutches and brake linings, gaskets, and pads for automobiles.

The main forms of asbestos are chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos). Other forms include amosite, anthophylite, tremolite and actinolite.

Why is asbestos a problem?

All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. Exposure to asbestos, including chrysotile, causes cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovaries, and also mesothelioma (a cancer of the pleural and peritoneal linings). Asbestos exposure is also responsible for other diseases such as asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs), and plaques, thickening and effusion in the pleura.

Currently, about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. Approximately half of the deaths from occupational cancer are estimated to be caused by asbestos. In addition, it is estimated that several thousand deaths annually can be attributed to exposure to asbestos in the home.

It has also been shown that co-exposure to tobacco smoke and asbestos fibres substantially increases the risk for lung cancer – and the heavier the smoking, the greater the risk.

What about asbestos substitute materials?

Many fibre substitutes for chrysotile asbestos assessed by WHO pose a relatively low hazard to human health, though, the carcinogenic hazard of some fibre substitutes was found to be high. However, there are many non-fibre low hazard materials that can substitute for chrysotile asbestos in various uses, such as conventional building materials.

WHO response

The World Health Assembly resolution 58.22 on cancer prevention urges Member States to pay special attention to cancers for which avoidable exposure is a factor, including exposure to chemicals at the workplace and in the environment.

With resolution 60.26, the World Health Assembly requested WHO to carry out a global campaign for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases "…bearing in mind a differentiated approach to regulating its various forms - in line with the relevant international legal instruments and the latest evidence for effective interventions…". Cost-effective interventions for prevention of occupational lung diseases from exposure to asbestos are among the policy options for implementing the "Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases" (2013-2020), as endorsed by the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly in resolution WHA66.10 in 2013.

Eliminating asbestos-related diseases is particularly targeted at countries still using chrysotile asbestos, in addition to assistance in relation to exposures arising from historical use of all forms of asbestos.

WHO, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization and other intergovernmental organizations and civil society, works with countries towards elimination of asbestos-related diseases by:

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is a non-profit that brings awareness to and prevents asbestos-related diseases. Linda Reinstein and Doug Larking founded the non-profit in 2004. With headquarters in California, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization is the largest independent non-profit organization for asbestos victims and disease awareness in the United States. Its mission centers around three main goals: asbestos education, advocacy, and community. So far, the organization has impacted the decision for a updated assessment of asbestos risks by EPA.

Asbestos is a toxin that can be used in the construction and automobile industries. Individuals can also find it in everyday manufactured goods and building materials such as roofing, flooring, transmission parts, and fabrics. This material can lead to asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.

How to Get Involved in Asbestos Awareness

ADAO offers multiple opportunities that promote involvement including a “Share Your Story” community. This community is one of many ways for Asbestos victims of America to come together and spread awareness by sharing asbestos stories and experiences. Another way to get involved is by signing the ADAO petition for the EPA to ban asbestos. They also send out an eNewsletter to inform members of the community of advances and further knowledge of treatment options in the U.S. Individuals can remain involved by signing up for their eNewsletter.

ADAO’s 17th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Virtual Conference

ADAO hosts annual conferences based based around asbestos awareness and prevention. Over 300 keynote speakers have shared knowledge and experience on the subject over the past 16 annual conferences. This year, ADAO will be presenting its yearly Academic Conference during the 17th annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Virtual Conference on Saturday, September 17th, 2022. You can read more details on ADAO’s site here.

Community Calendar Events

The ADAO website offers multiple avenues for individuals to get involved or remain aware of national and international celebrations. The main focuses of these events include asbestos diseases, cancer, and health in general. The ADAO Global Asbestos and Mesothelioma Calendar share a list of note-worthy months and days throughout the year. This calendar is an accessible and concise resource for community members.

Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Advocacy

ADAO values advocacy in its mission to increase awareness of asbestos exposure globally while protecting asbestos victims in their diagnoses. Asbestos disease causes symptoms in patients that sometimes prove to be untreatable. In collaboration with organizations worldwide, the ADAO strives to ban asbestos globally and fight for those affected by it.

Mesothelioma Day and Global Asbestos Week

ADAO celebrates Mesothelioma Awareness Month throughout September and Mesothelioma Awareness Day officially on September 26th. This day of awareness aids in educating individuals about mesothelioma and what leads to it while raising donations for mesothelioma research.

Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) takes place on the week of April 1st-7th. This week dedicates multiple days to educating individuals on the risk of asbestos and preventing asbestos-related diseases. Each day of GAAW has a theme or title, and the ADAO releases materials that share knowledge and insight on that specific topic each day. These materials may include fact sheets or occupational exposure stories that best foster awareness.

Contacting and Donating to the ADAO

ADAO also uses various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Social media is another way to get in touch with ADAO.

ADAO makes donations personable and convenient. The website offers a few ways to donate to ADAO. Individuals may honor a loved one by hosting a fundraiser in memory of a family member or friend who has lost their life to asbestos disease. In addition, individuals may also donate by celebrating milestones and special events as fundraisers for ADAO.