If you suffer from mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure it is important to consult a Mississippi mesothelioma lawyer in case you have been exposed to the toxic mineral. Professional legal guidance through a Mississippi mesothelioma attorney will allow you to file a law suit against the person or company responsible for causing the asbestos contamination that led to the development of the disease.

Asbestos is a mineral that poses a grave threat to human lives and health 1. It causes a variety of diseases including fatal cancers as well.  This is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in many parts of the United Sates deposited in soil as well as rocks 2. There are many different applications of the mineral in the industrial sector of America. It is primarily used in the construction of buildings and for insulation purposes. The reason why asbestos was and is still being used readily today, lies in its countless profitable properties that make it the ideal material for various applications. Once disturbed, this mineral can release toxic fibers in the air, which can get ingested by humans and can cause various diseases. Two of the most dangerous complications of asbestos exposure are a rare form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma, and lung scarring also called asbestosis.

Mesothelioma and asbestos:

Mesothelioma is considered a dangerous disease because it cannot be diagnosed or detected at the early stages. This is because the latency period of the disease is very prolonged; this means that the disease may not manifest any symptoms until years and even decades following the initial asbestos exposure that may have triggered the development of the disease. Also, unlike other forms of tumors that expand in a lumping manner, mesothelioma expands in a sheet like manner which makes it even more difficult to diagnose the disease. It is therefore important for all workers and residents that may have acquired asbestos exposure from their work place to consult mesothelioma specialists for timely diagnosis and medical attention. The government has strict regulations controlling asbestos contamination in the atmosphere 3.

Mississippi Mesothelioma Cases 

Asbestos exposure also contributes greatly in enhancing the chances of cancer development in other regions of the body than the respiratory system, including throat, gall bladder, stomach etc. Asbestosis is a disease that occurs more commonly around the world as compared to mesothelioma. In Mississippi, there are a greater number of fatalities that have been reported resulting from asbestosis, in contrast to mesothelioma, which is quite unlike the case in many other states of America where mesothelioma is considered the primary cause of death induced by asbestos exposure. Methothelioma may not be as common as asbestosis, but is much more aggressive and the average lifespan of a person diagnosed with this condition is roughly 1year to 18 months.

Asbestos in Mississippi:

There are many occupations and industries in Mississippi that pose a threat to the lives of workers and residents with the risks of asbestos exposure, primarily because of the location of the state. The Mississippi department of environmental quality monitors asbestos exposure sites throughout Mississippi 4.

The following occupations put workers at risk of asbestos exposure:

Construction: Asbestos is widely used by the construction industry, not only of this particular state, but across America.

Power plants and oil refineries: Apart from the construction business, asbestos exposure and atmosphere contamination is also caused because of power generation plant operations, and in case of Mississippi, there various oil refineries that contribute readily to the amount of asbestos processed and used in the state. All these industries collectively pose a major threat to human lives, because this mineral is the leading cause of a rare lung cancer known as mesothelioma, which is fatal to humans.

Shipyards: There are two main areas in Mississippi which have been deemed the critical points for a large percentage of all asbestos exposure and atmosphere contamination by the mineral, these are two shipyards namely the Naval Station and Ingalls located in Pascagoula. Between the years 1930 till late 1970’s asbestos was widely used in these shipyards for insulating sea vessels. Asbestos exposure was therefore very common as workers were required to work with large amounts of this insulating material at the work site, placing the lives of many naval Veterans in jeopardy. Ironically, many of the workers who were exposed to asbestos at their work sites were not warned of the health hazards posed by the mineral and hence, hundreds of workers in Mississippi acquired asbestos exposure without their knowledge at the sites where they worked.

If you have been unknowingly exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma cancer as a result of this exposure then you should contact a Mississippi mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible and file for legal litigation.

Job sites with asbestos exposure in Mississippi:

There are a total of one hundred and ninety five sites confirmed for causing asbestos exposure and contamination in the state of Mississippi. Asbestos exposure and reports of health injuries as a result of this mineral has occurred in sixty nine cities across the state according to statistics and the figures may rise higher. The city in Mississippi with the greatest percentage of asbestos exposure is Jackson. The city alone is home to 26 sites which have been confirmed for causing asbestos exposure. An experienced Mississippi mesothelioma attorney will guide you on all legal proceedings required to file a case if you have been exposed to asbestos in your work place and suffer from mesothelioma. The following places are known for asbestos exposure in Mississippi:

American Potash Chemical Plant in Hamilton, Babcock & Wilcox in Westpoint, Armstrong Tire & Rubber in Natchez, Armour Packing in Jackson, Baxter Wilson Power Plant in Vicksburg, Beecham Hospital in Magnolia, Baldwin Piano in Greenwood, General Electric in Jackson and first chemical plant in Pascagoula. These sites are among many more that have asbestos contamination in the state of Mississippi.