What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally, and the following four types of asbestos have been used in commercial applications:
- Chrysotile asbestos
- Amosite asbestos
- Anthophyllite asbestos
- Crocidolite asbestos
All asbestos is made up of microscopic fibers that separate into thin thread, which are resistant to heat, flame, chemicals and do not conduct electricity. These properties (in addition to the mineral’s strength and durability) helped contribute to the wide use of asbestos in building and construction projects.
Why Is Asbestos Exposure Harmful to Humans?
Conservative health estimates indicate that more than 100,000 people have passed away because of asbestos-related diseases, one of which is mesothelioma. If asbestos-containing products age are disturbed by aging, sanding, drilling, sawing and similar incidents, the mineral’s microscopic fibers release into the air. At this point, those fibers can be swallowed or inhaled by workers or individuals who are exposed to the airborne asbestos fibers.
Once the fibers are ingested, the asbestos can line the lungs and other body cavity linings, ultimately causing the following potentially fatal diseases:
- Mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Asbestos-related lung cancer
Is Asbestos Still Used?
Yes, although the use of asbestos is now strictly limited and heavily regulated. Previously, however, asbestos was widely used for building projects and in the military. With very limited exceptions, it is now fair to say that consumer applications no longer use asbestos.
Additionally, asbestos has been listed as a human carcinogen and all new uses of asbestos were ultimately banned by the Environmental Protection Agency.
What Jobs Are Most Commonly Associated With Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related Diseases?
Military veterans are, by far, the most at-risk occupation for a mesothelioma diagnosis. Research has shown that nearly 1 in 3 mesothelioma deaths impact veterans, even though veterans comprise fewer than 10 percent of the population.
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of key bodily organs, which may include the stomach, heart or lungs. The thin membrane around these critical organs develop are where the mesothelioma cancer develops after a person is exposed to asbestos.
Does Asbestos Exposure Always Lead to Mesothelioma or an Asbestos-Related Disease?
No, and in fact mesothelioma of all kinds is a very rare cancer. However, research has shown that a single exposure to asbestos may still be capable of causing mesothelioma.
Even so, generally an individual is more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma if there was a repeated and regular exposure to asbestos.
Can Mesothelioma Be Cured?
Based on the current scientific research, there is still no known cure for the harms of mesothelioma cancer. Instead, treatment focuses on prolonging and improving a patient’s quality of life.
And, since mesothelioma is rare, research progress has been relatively slow and survival rates are not optimistic. For pleural mesothelioma, fewer than 1 in 10 victims live more than five years after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
For this reason, it is important that you talk to a Ledger Law mesothelioma attorney to receive the compensation that may be owed to you after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis when a responsible party exposed you to asbestos and effectively caused your disease.
