Exposure to asbestos fibers has been linked to asbestos cancer, asbestosis (scarring of the lungs that restricts breathing), asbestos mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the chest cavity), and silicosis. The chances of getting an asbestos-related illness increase as the level and duration of exposure to asbestos increases.Asbestos is not banned in the US and Canada ? it?s still in use in a wide variety of products. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there are 3,000 different types of commercial products currently in use in the US today that contain asbestos, including building materials, brake pads, and fire retardant materials and products. <!?Who is at risk for Asbestos Mesothelioma??>At Work Asbestos can pose a serious health threat when disturbed or when it begins to deteriorate and asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled. to date, companies which have exposed their employees to asbestos have faced thousands of lawsuits and settled hundreds of millions in damages. Asbestos is mainly used as an insulating material ? it is a very effective fire retardant material, hence its use to insulate boilers, pipes, and fire doors; it?s used in roofing and many construction materials, and in electrical fittings.The types of work environments where you are most likely to encounter asbestos include mines, shipyards, railroads, power plants, and construction sites.Workers who may be at risk for asbestos exposure include, but are not limited to:Boiler and furnace techniciansCar mechanics (brake shoes)Construction workersNavy shipyard workersPipe fittersMinersRailway workersAt HomeAsbestos mesothelioma doesn?t just affect the people working with it directly. recently the medical profession has started to recognize that people can be affected by asbestos-caused diseases through secondary or passive exposure.For example, cases of second-hand asbestos exposure were recently been reported by wives and children of men who worked in the shipyards in World War II. The workers were exposed to large amounts of damaged or ?friable? asbestos while on the job, and their wives became came ill following exposure to asbestos fibers that had become lodged in the workers? clothing. over the years, the constant inhalation of these fibers resulted in the development of asbestos-related diseases.In the CommunitySecondary asbestos exposure is also possible by living in a community or area located near an asbestos mine or a company that manufactures asbestos or products containing asbestos. many older buildings may also contain asbestos insulation, including schools.Perhaps the most famous victims of community contamination in North America are the residents of Libby, Montana, an asbestos-mining town. Vermiculite, which naturally contains asbestos, was mined there between 1923 and 1991. Workers and families of workers who lived in the town sued W.R. Grace, the last company to own the mine. at one point the company reportedly faced 110,000 lawsuits for sickening hundreds of people and contributing to the deaths of 225?allegedly with full knowledge.Other examples of community exposure include the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and areas prone to damage from natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.<!?If your home was built before 1970 or if you work in an industry that uses or has used asbestos, you may be at risk. Asbestos testing and removal should be performed by a professional. And if you or your family has suffered from asbestos exposure or poisoning, specialized lawyers and attorneys can evaluate your claim and help secure justice and compensation.At one time, asbestos was commonly used for insulation and fireproofing, in products such as pipe insulation, shingles, siding, flooring felt, rollboard, millboard, floor tiles, and textured paints. The EPA has banned several asbestos products and manufacturers of these products have halted production. Asbestos has also been used throughout the world ? Australia, Japan, and throughout Europe.More than 27 million workers were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1980. Approximately 1.3 million construction workers still face significant exposure to asbestos during renovations, demolitions, and asbestos removal. Employees working in areas of manufacturing of asbestos such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials, are also likely to be exposed, as are employees working on automotive brake and clutch repair work.?>Early symptoms of asbestos mesothelioma can include chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, hoarseness, cough, fluid retention and abdominal swelling. Because mesothelioma affects the pleura, or the membranes that surround almost all of your internal organs, pain or swelling in the chest or the abdomen could be a symptom of mesothelioma.You are warned to contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. If you have been exposed to asbestos fibers in the past you should make your doctor aware of that as well.Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that is caused only by inhaling asbestos fibers. Although it is not a type of cancer, asbestosis is a serious and life-threatening disease because it can lead to asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma. The chances of getting asbestosis increase as the level and duration of exposure to asbestos increases, and anyone who has come in contact with asbestos is at risk for developing asbestosis. Symptoms of asbestosis rarely occur less than 10 years following first exposure to asbestos fibers and are more common after 20 years or more, therefore making it even more difficult to file a lawsuit by yourself. Many reports have proven that corporations, asbestos makers and industry members had knowledge of the dangers of asbestos and its link to asbestos-related illnesses since the 1930s. An asbestosis lawyer can bring about a suit against multiple asbestos employers and asbestos manufacturers.<!?The European union has banned all uses of asbestos, as has Australia. Japan is expected to ban it soon. The US banned most uses and then the courts overturned the ban. Asbestos is still used in numerous products in the US and Canada. Although the links between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma has been known since the early 1900?s, few regulations for exposure were implemented until the 70?s. The first lawsuit was filed in 1929.Malignant mesothelioma is a rare lung cancer which attacks the lining of the lung (pleural mesothelioma) or the lining of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). The only known cause of mesothelioma in North America is exposure to asbestos. There have also been reports linked to asbestos which include cancer of the esophagus, larynx, stomach, colon and rectum. Like the other asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma has a long latency period (amount of time between first exposure to asbestos and disease diagnosis). Typically, mesothelioma is diagnosed 20, 30, 40 or more years after the first exposure to asbestos. in rare cases the latency period has been as short as 10 to 15 years. Pulmonary asbestosis is caused when asbestos particles are inhaled which can cause a scarring of the lung tissue. Similar to mesothelioma, the latency period is delayed 10 to 30 years. Symptoms of asbestosis can include shortness of breath or an inability to take a deep breath, fatigue, dry cough, rales or crackles at the base of the lungs. other names for pulmonary asbestosis are pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial fibrosis, lung scarring, diffuse linear opacities (on x-ray) and pneumoconiosis.?>Article source: lawyersandsettlements.com/case/asbestos_mesothelioma.html?ref=article16589 Previous Entry: Mesothelioma and Homeopathy Next Entry: Mesothelioma Symptoms
Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawsuits
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