Asbestos

Highlights

How to develop and maintain a building asbestos operations and maintenance (O&M) program.
EPA action in Libby, Montana
Read about asbestos contaminated vermiculite | en español (PDF) (5 pp, 126K, about PDF).
Read about the asbestos program's January 2007 - June 2009 accomplishments.

Tremolite Asbestos (Image Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

Why is asbestos dangerous?

Asbestos fibres are present in the environment in Great Britain so people are exposed to very low levels of fibres. However, a key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in. Working on or near damaged asbestos-containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres, which may be many hundreds of times that of environmental levels could increase your chances of getting an asbestos-related disease.

When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. There are four main diseases caused by asbestos: mesothelioma (which is always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal). 

Remember, these diseases will not affect you immediately but later on in life, so there is a need for you to protect yourself now to prevent you contracting an asbestos-related disease in the future. It is also important to remember that people who smoke and are also exposed to asbestos fibres are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.

Why Do You Need to be Concerned About Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.
When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems.

 

Most Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure:

• Workplace exposure to people that work in industries that mine, make or use asbestos products and those living
  near these industries, including:
• the construction industry (particularly building demolition and renovation activities),
• the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials), and
• during automotive brake and clutch repair work
• Deteriorating, damaged, or disturbed asbestos-containing products such as insulation, fireproofing, acoustical materials, and floor tiles.

 

On this Web site:                                 

• Basic Information
• What is asbestos?
• Asbestos health effects
• Where can asbestos be found?
• What if I have asbestos in my home?
• Where can I find an accredited laboratory to test for asbestos?
• EPA's role in asbestos
• Other federal asbestos efforts

·         Where You Live -- Get contacts for asbestos information in each EPA regional office and in the states.

·         Vermiculite -- Learn about asbestos-contaminated vermiculite products and asbestos contamination in Libby, Montana.

·         Naturally Occurring Asbestos -- Learn about reducing exposure to asbestos that is present in naturally-occurring rock formations in certain areas of the U.S., including California.

·         Asbestos in Schools / Asbestos en Escuela -- Read about EPA's program to keep children safe from asbestos found in school buildings. en español.

·         Asbestos in Your Home -- Read about what to do if you find asbestos in your home.

·         Asbestos in Products & Buildings -- Read EPA's publications on asbestos in products and buildings.

·         Asbestos Laws & Regulations -- Find links to the laws, EPA's regulations and policy guidance relating to asbestos.

·         For Asbestos Abatement Professionals -- Find out how you can take training to become an asbestos abatement professional and learn about state asbestos accreditation programs.

Life Insurance

Compare cheap life insurance quotes with moneysupermarket.com. One search to find the best life insurance cover to suit your needs from trusted insurance providers such as Aviva, Legal & General, AXA, Friends Provident and more.

Life Insurance -
Things you need to know

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Life Insurance Guide

Life Insurance, also known as life assurance, will pay out a sum of money if the policy holder dies. Read our guide to life insurance to find out how to select the best policy for your needs.

» Read about life insurance

Guide to UK Life Insurance Companies

Find out more about some of the UK's most popular life insurance companies.

Life insurance with critical illness cover

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Life insurance for the over 50s

If you're over 50 and looking to take out a life insurance policy check out our panel of specialist companies.  Our selection of insurers can help you find the right plan to provide financial support and protection for your family.  Search for over 50s life insurance

 

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By Dave Ramsey

Myth: Cash value life insurance, like whole life, will help me retire wealthy .
Truth: Cash value life insurance is one of the worst financial products available.

Sadly, over 70% of the life insurance policies sold today are cash value policies. A cash value policy is an insurance product that packages insurance and savings together. Do not invest money in life insurance; the returns are horrible. Your insurance person will show you wonderful projections, but none of these policies perform as projected.

Example of Cash Value

If a 30-year-old man has $100 per month to spend on life insurance and shops the top five cash value companies, he will find he can purchase an average of $125,000 in insurance for his family. The pitch is to get a policy that will build up savings for retirement, which is what a cash value policy does. However, if this same guy purchases 20-year-level term insurance with coverage of $125,000, the cost will be only $7 per month, not $100.

WOW! If he goes with the cash value option, the other $93 per month should be in savings, right? Well, not really; you see, there are expenses.

Expenses? How much?

All of the $93 per month disappears in commissions and expenses for the first three years. After that, the return will average 2.6% per year for whole life, 4.2% for universal life, and 7.4% for the new-and-improved variable life policy that includes mutual funds, according to Consumer Federation of America, Kiplinger's Personal Finance and Fortune magazines. The same mutual funds outside of the policy average 12%.

The Hidden Catch

Worse yet, with whole life and universal life, the savings you finally build up after being ripped off for years don't go to your family upon your death. The only benefit paid to your family is the face value of the policy, the $125,000 in our example.

The truth is that you would be better off to get the $7 term policy and and put the extra $93 in a cookie jar! At least after three years you would have $3,000, and when you died your family would get your savings.

A Better Plan

If you follow my Total Money Makeover plan, you will begin investing well. Then, when you are 57 years old and the kids are grown and gone, the house is paid for, and you have $700,000 in mutual funds, you'll become self-insured. That means when your 20-year term is up, you shouldn't need life insurance at all—because with no kids to feed, no house payment and $700,000, your spouse will just have to suffer through if you die without insurance.

Don't do cash value insurance! Buy term and invest the difference.

Acne

Acne is a skin condition that causes whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red lesions (papules, pustules, and cysts) to form. These growths are commonly called pimples or "zits." 

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin, called pores, become clogged. Each pore is an opening to a canal called a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland. Normally, the oil glands help keep the skin lubricated and help remove old skin cells. When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria. The blockage is called a plug or comedone.

The top of the plug may be white (whitehead) or dark (blackhead). If it ruptures, the material inside, including oil and bacteria, can spread to the surrounding area and cause an inflammatory reaction. If the inflammation is deep in your skin, the pimples may enlarge to form firm, painful cysts.

Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders, but may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks.

Acne is most common in teenagers, but it can happen at any age, even as an infant. Three out of four teenagers have acne to some extent, probably caused by hormonal changes that stimulate oil production. However, people in their 30s and 40s may also have acne.

Acne tends to run in families and can be triggered by:

• Hormonal changes related to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress
• Greasy or oily cosmetic and hair products
• Certain drugs (such as steroids, testosterone, estrogen, and phenytoin)
• High levels of humidity and sweating

Despite the popular belief that chocolate, nuts, and other foods cause acne, research does not confirm this idea.

Symptoms

• Blackheads
• Crusting of skin eruptions
• Cysts
• Pustules
• Redness around the skin eruptions
• Scarring of the skin
• Whiteheads

Signs and tests

Your doctor can diagnose acne based on the appearance of the skin. Testing is usually not required.

Treatment

Take the following self-care steps to lessen the effects of acne:

• Clean your skin gently with a mild, nondrying soap (such as Dove, Neutrogena, or Basics). Remove all dirt or make-up. Wash once or twice a day, including after exercising. However, avoid excessive or repeated skin washing.
• Shampoo your hair daily, especially if it is oily. Comb or pull your hair back to keep the hair out of your face. Avoid tight headbands.
• Try not to squeeze, scratch, pick, or rub the pimples. Although it might be tempting to do this, it can lead to skin infections and scarring.
• Avoid touching your face with your hands or fingers.
• Avoid greasy cosmetics or creams. Look for water-based or "noncomedogenic" formulas. Take make-up off at night. Noncomedogenic products have been tested and proven not to clog pores and cause acne.

If these steps do not clear up the blemishes to an acceptable level, try over-the-counter acne medications. These products are applied directly to the skin. They may contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid. They work by killing bacteria, drying up the oil, and causing the top layer of your skin to peel. They may cause redness or peeling of the skin.

If pimples are still a problem, a dermatologist can prescribe stronger medications and discuss other options with you.

Prescription medicines include:

• Oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) such as minocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, and amoxicillin
• Topical antibiotics (applied to the skin) such as clindamycin, erythromycin or dapsone
• Retinoic acid cream or gel (Retin-A) and isotretinoin pills (Accutane) -- pregnant women and sexually active adolescent females should NOT take Accutane, as it causes severe birth defects. Women taking Accutane must use two forms of birth control before starting the drug and enroll in the iPledge program.
• Prescription formulas of benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid
• A pill called spironolactone may help women with hormonally controlled acne.
• A laser procedure called photodynamic therapy may also be helpful.

Birth control pills can sometimes help clear up acne. (In some cases, though, they may make it worse.)

Your doctor may also suggest chemical skin peeling, removal of scars by dermabrasion, or removal, drainage, or injection of cysts.

A small amount of sun exposure may improve acne. However, excessive exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet rays is not recommended because it increases the risk of skin cancer.

Expectations (prognosis)

Acne usually subsides after adolescence, but may last into middle age. The condition generally responds well to treatment after 6 - 8 weeks, but may flare up from time to time. Scarring may occur if severe acne is not treated. Some people, especially teenagers, can become significantly depressed if acne is not treated.

Complications

Possible complications include:

• Changes in skin color
• Cysts
• Damage to self-esteem, confidence, personality, and social life
• Permanent facial scars
• Side effects of Accutane (including very dry skin and mucus membranes, high triglyceride levels, liver damage, and birth defects in an unborn baby; call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug)
• Side effects of other medications

Calling your health care provider

Call your doctor or a dermatologist if:

• Self-care measures and over-the-counter medicine have not helped after several months
• Your acne is severe (for example, you have lots of redness around the pimples or you have cysts) or getting worse
• You develop scars as your acne clears up     

Call your pediatrician if your baby has acne that does not clear up on its own within 3 months.

References:

Acne, rosacea, and related disorders. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 7.