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Legal Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Advice |
Asbestos Health Threats
It is now clear that exposure to airborne asbestos
fibers can cause disease. The risk of developing asbestos-related
disease varies according to the intensity, duration
and nature of the exposure.
Asbestos exposure can cause a number of disabling
and fatal diseases. The principal route of exposure
is by inhalation through the nose and mouth. Asbestos,
traditionally valued for its indestructibility, is
especially resistant to the internal defenses of the
human body. Once lodged inside the lungs, most fibers
will not break up or dissolve. They can’t be neutralized
or removed.
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Asbestos Diseases
ASBESTOSIS is a disease
that is characterized by pulmonary fibrosis,
a progressive scarring of the lung caused
by the accumulation of asbestos fibers.
LUNG CANCER is a malignant tumor of
the bronchi covering.
MESOTHELIOMA is a cancer of the mesothelium,
the lining of the chest or the lining of the
abdominal wall.
PLEURAL PLAQUES and PLEURAL CALCIFICATION
are markers of exposure and may develop 10
to 20 years after initial exposure.
OTHER DISEASES and adverse health
effects have been noted among the population
exposed to asbestos fibers. Increased incidences
of non-respiratory cancers have been observed
in some recent epidemiological studies. Cancers
of the larynx, esophagus, stomach, colon-rectum,
kidney and pancreas are present at slightly
higher than predicted levels.
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Asbestos History
The word asbestos is
derived from a Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable.
The "miracle mineral" as it was referred
to by the Greeks, was admired for its soft and
pliant properties, as well as its ability to
withstand heat. Asbestos was spun and woven
into cloth in the same manner as cotton. It
was also utilized for wicks in sacred lamps.
Romans likewise recognized the properties of
asbestos and it is thought that they cleaned
asbestos tablecloths by throwing them into the
flames of a fire. |
Mesothelioma Asbestos
Lawsuits
The purpose of asbestos
lawsuits is to recover financial damages that
result from asbestos related illness. Possible
financial recoveries from asbestos lawsuits
include the cost of medical bills, lost wages,
and other associated costs. In some asbestos
lawsuits, punitive damages (designed to punish
the defendant) are also awarded. A few states
permit asbestos lawsuits to be filed by people
who reasonably expect to develop asbestos-related
illnesses. These asbestos lawsuits regulations
allow individuals exposed to asbestos to attempt
to prepare financially for likely diseases.
Many asbestos lawsuits have served to help publicize
the adverse health effects of asbestos exposure;
conact a lawyer for more information on asbestos
lawsuits. |
Legal Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Resource Online
An estimated 1.3 million
employees in construction and general industry
face significant asbestos exposure on the job.
Heaviest exposures occur in the construction
industry, particularly during the removal of
asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees
are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture
of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction
products, insulation, and other building materials)
and during automotive brake and clutch repair
work. |
Asbestos and Lung Cancer
Lung cancer, or bronchial
carcinoma, occurs in several forms. The most
common causes of lung cancer are smoking and
asbestos. This web site has focused on the most
lethal of the lung cancers-mesothelioma. Not
every asbestos-related lung cancer, however,
is a mesothelioma. Other thoracic carcinomas,
such as adenocarcinoma, are also caused by exposure
to asbestos. |
Asbestos Materials in
the home
Two types of asbestos
products are found in the home. Asbestos can
be loosely or firmly bound. Loosely bound asbestos
is found sealed inside old domestic stoves and
heaters. Firmly bound asbestos is a common building
material. In older homes, firmly bound asbestos
may be found in the following materials:
- Flat or corrugated
sheeting (fibro cement or 'AC' sheeting)
- Water pipes
- Flue pipes
- Roof shingles
- Flexible building
boards
- Plaster patching
compounds
- Textured paint
- Vinyl floor tiles
- The backings of
linoleum floor coverings
- Insulation on hot
water pipes
- Insulation in old
domestic heaters
- Insulation in stoves
- Ceiling insulation
products.
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Mesothelioma Asbestos
Lawsuits
Mesothelioma attorneys
can help victims in recovering funds related
to asbestos-caused mesothelioma. Many of the
mesothelioma attorneys with experience in this
field have successfully claimed costs from those
responsible for asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma
attorneys can regain medical costs, lost wages,
and punitive fees for victims and their families. |
Mesothelioma Legal Advice
If you or a loved one
has Mesothelioma, the disease is the result
of being exposed to asbestos. Many asbestos
manufacturers and distributors knew for decades
that asbestos was hazardous, yet made a business
decision not to warn people of those hazards.
As a result, you may have a right of recovery
against those manufacturers, which can help
defray the costs of treatment and provide compensation
for your pain and suffering. |
Asbestos - Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers
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