Asbestos is a durable and heat resistant mineral that was once commonly used in building materials such as insulation, flooring, and paints. When broken apart, these asbestos containing materials (ACM) contain individual asbestos fibers that are extremely hazardous if inhaled. The sharp, glass-like fibers become permanently imbedded in the lining of the lungs, making tiny cuts and leading to a build-up of scar tissue. Over time, this scar tissue will slowly decrease the lungs’ ability to process oxygen.
Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of contracting other lung-related diseases, including pleural disease, asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma (a rare but deadly form of cancer).
Asbestos Exposure Causes Mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, a cancer of the mesothelial cells that make up the pleural membrane surrounding the lungs or stomach.
This form of cancer, in which tumors grow on the pleura, is rare and related almost exclusively to exposure to asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma can be either malignant or benign, and can affect the membranes surrounding either the lungs or the stomach. Benign mesothelioma can be removed surgically and is generally not life threatening. Malignant mesothelioma, the most serious of the asbestos-related diseases, is much more dangerous. Linked as it is to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma primarily affects the pleura around the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but has also been known to attack the membrane surrounding the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma).
As with lung cancer, there is a long incubation period between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma, sometimes as long as forty years. Early symptoms can resemble pneumonia: chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, and difficulty breathing. At other times, though, there are no visible symptoms, and the cancer is discovered only through a routine chest x-ray.
Mesothelioma & Other Asbestos-Related Disease Treatments
Treatments for malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases may involve a combination of surgery to remove the malignant tumors, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Asbestos Exposure Lawyer
Workers or others who have been exposed to asbestos containing materials or developed disease as a result of asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation to help pay for the medical bills often associated with treatment of this deadly disease. Family members may also file a wrongful death lawsuit if they can prove that their loved one died as a result of asbestos exposure. If considering filing a lawsuit it is important that you consult and an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Related Articles:
- What is personal injury law?
- Asbestos is considered a defective product
- Were you exposed to hazards materials or injured on the job? If so, you may be entitled to workers compensation.
