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Reuters - More testing and regulation of nanomaterials used in an increasingly number of everyday products is urgently needed, experts said on Wednesday.

Asbestos was called the miracle mineral by the Greeks especially because it could withstand heat. Due to this characteristic of this element, it was widely used in the construction industry until the late 1900s. Until recently, the bad effects of using this material werent known to the public, but when it came to light, it was too late. By the time the authorities found out that it was a killer, countless number of innocents had lost their lives in the fight against asbestos poisoning. The inhalation of asbestos fibers commonly causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and also asbestosis.

The Overexpressed in Lung cancer 1 (OLC1) gene is expressed at high levels in the majority of lung cancers, more often in samples from smokers than nonsmokers, and its expression is increased in cells treated with cigarette smoke.