Tennessee Mesothelioma Attorney

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Tennessee, you are eligible to file a law suit against the company or industry responsible for the asbestos contamination by contacting an experienced Tennessee mesothelioma attorney. A professional Tennessee mesothelioma lawyer will aptly assist you in every step involved in filing a law suit, against the company that caused your asbestos exposure. Taking a legal action offers a certain degree of retribution for your pain and suffering caused by the cancer.

Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of a deadly and rare form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma, which along with asbestosis, is a common complication of asbestos contamination across many states of America. Majority of the mesothelioma cases have been reported to have occurred because of the exposure to the toxic mineral acquired at contaminated work sites. There are many companies and industries in the state of Tennessee that make use of asbestos in their operations and productions, exposing workers, in many cases unknowingly, to the hazards posed by direct or indirect contact with asbestos. It is important to remember that mesothelioma is fatal to humans, and the treatment is both expensive and painful.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in the form of deposits in different parts of the United States of America 1 and all over the world. The mineral has many profitable and useful properties including flexibility, high tensile strength and the fact that it does not conduct heat or electricity. This is why it is used as an insulator against heat, electric current and chemicals. During the time period between the 1900’s till the 1970’s, this mineral was used readily in the manufacturing of many commercial products, as well as in the operations of many industries. It was also widely used in the construction of various commercial and residential buildings, owing to its insulating properties. Asbestos was a common component during the construction of different structures; some of its applications include pipes 2, ceiling and floor tiling, roofing shingles and felts, spray on fire proofing, sprayed on ceiling materials and textures, joint compounds, mastics, drywalls, boiler insulations, acoustical products and cement sheeting.

Risks of asbestos exposure:

Majority of the naturally occurring minerals do not distribute into fibers, but asbestos breaks up into very minute and light weight fibers which are not visible to the naked eye. Seen only under a microscope, these fibers pose a grave threat to human lives. When the mineral is intact, either as a natural deposit or in the form of asbestos containing materials, it is not harmful and cannot induce any diseases to those who come in contact with it. However, when asbestos is damaged or disturbed, it releases these fine fibers into the atmosphere which can easily be inhaled or ingested into the human system. This is especially true if the asbestos has been used in the manufacture of friable products 3. They also have the ability to remain airborne for a long period of time and can be transferred from one place to another with the wind. Asbestos fibers are also released into the air when the mineral deteriorates over time. Apart from obstructing normal breathing, these fibers can eventually give rise to the development of various dangerous diseases and different forms of cancers. Some of the diseases that are induced by asbestos exposure include asbestosis, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer and a rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma you should consult a Tennessee mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible and file a mesothelioma award case.

Job sites with known asbestos contamination in Tennessee:

A total of 57 cities across Tennessee have been reported to have caused asbestos contamination and exposure and the number may rise if the usage of the mineral in the industries in not curbed and regulated. The city that contributes to the largest percentage of all asbestos exposure being caused in the state is Chattanooga which alone is home to 29 sites confirmed for asbestos contamination. The following job sites in Tennessee have been known for asbestos contamination:

The American Enka Rayon Plant in Lowland, American Finishing in Memphis, Cumberland Steam Plant in Cumberland, Davis Furniture Manufacturing Plant in Memphis, Cumberland Power Plant in Clarksville, the Dupont plant in Nashville. These are a few of many asbestos contaminated sites in Tennessee.

Fatalities occurring due to asbestos related diseases in Tennessee:

Asbestos fibers are very minute and light, and are invisible to the naked eye 4. They can remain airborne for a long period of time and can get inhaled. Once inside the human respiratory system, these fibers get embedded in the respiratory mucosa and tissues and cause deadly diseases. The state of Tennessee has reported around 675 deaths from asbestos related conditions. The areas which contributed the greatest number of deaths are Knox County, Shelby County and Davidson County.

Mesothelioma treatment centers in Tennessee:

Mesothelioma is by far the most dangerous complication of asbestos exposure and spreads in a sheet like manner, unlike the lumping expansion of other cancers. It affects and damages the fine lining covering the lungs, abdomen, heart and other vital internal organs. One of the greatest disadvantages of the disease in terms of diagnosis is the fact that its latency period is unusually prolonged, this means that the disease does not present any symptoms or manifestations till years, and in some cases decades following the initial exposure to the mineral that triggered the development of the cancer. Another fact about mesothelioma is that this particular cancer is fatal to humans, victims have a year or 18 months to live after a confirmed diagnosis has been made. This is why it is recommended that the services of a Tennessee mesothelioma lawyer must be acquired immediately after a confirmed mesothelioma diagnosis has been made to file a law suit against the company responsible for asbestos exposure.