The term "asbestos" refers to a number of naturally occurring mineral fibers. These fibers are strong, durable, poor conductors of electricity, and heat resistant. Because of these properties, asbestos was widely used in manufacturing and construction through the mid-1970s. Although the use of asbestos was first regulated in the 1970s by the U.S. government, its use continued in asbestos cement products, automotive brakes, and gaskets into the 1990s.
Most asbestos exposure victims are industrial and construction workers, but asbestos fibers can travel home on workers' clothing and affect family members as well. Children and spouses of industrial workers can develop mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis from exposure in the household. This is known as secondhand, take-home, or household exposure.
Exposure to asbestos can lead to the following health conditions:
- Asbestosis occurs when inhaled asbestos fibers are trapped inside the lungs. The body produces an acid in an attempt to dissolve these fibers, which causes scarring around the lung tissue. Eventually, this scarring becomes so severe that it disrupts lung function. The latency period - or amount of time between inhalation and diagnosis - for developing asbestosis is estimated at 25 to 40 years.
- Lung cancer is an illness characterized by uncontrolled growth in the lung tissue. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing, and weight loss. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer in people who have been exposed to asbestos, but lung cancer can affect anyone. Even former or present smokers may be eligible for a lung cancer claim.
- Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium-the lining around the heart, chest, abdomen, heart and testicles that produces fluid to cushion and protect the organs as they move against each other. Each year approximately 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. This is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer divided into four types based on what part of the mesothelium shows cancer growth.
- Head & Neck Cancers along with esophageal, throat, and thyroid cancer can all be caused or worsened by exposure to asbestos. Head and neck cancer describes a number of malignant tumors that develop in or around the throat, mouth, larynx, nose and sinuses.
TYPES OF MESOTHELIOMA
The three most common types of mesothelioma are:
- Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleura, or the lining of the lungs. This is the most common form of mesothelioma accounting for 80-85% of diagnoses. It causes fluid and tumors in the lungs that restrict-and, in advanced stages, cut off-breathing. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath; weight loss; difficulty swallowing; painful coughing; chest pain under the rib cage; and pleural effusion, which is a buildup of fluid in the lungs or chest.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity and is typically caused by swallowing asbestos fibers, but can also result from lymph nodes circulating the fibers. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma often include abdominal pain or swelling; weight loss; bowel obstruction; and lumps of tissue in the abdomen.
- Pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the heart. This is the rarest form of mesothelioma. Symptoms include chest pain or a "tight" feeling near the heart; persistent cough; weight loss; and an irregular breathing pattern or heartbeat, especially during exercise or exertion.
WHO HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS?
As mentioned, those in the construction and industrial industries are considered most at risk-although everyone has been exposed to some amount of asbestos in his or her lifetime. Most people diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness were exposed on a regular basis, usually on the job. Asbestos was widely used in a variety of industries, from oil refineries to railways. It was used in thousands of products, and is still used in some construction materials. Asbestos materials remain in many buildings, ships, and automobiles today.
