Asbestosis and Mesothelioma

Ohio Lawsuits & Legal Rescources

Mesothelioma is cancer that begins in the tissue lining different organs and spaces inside the body called mesothelium which surrounds the lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs. Benign and cancerous tumors begin in the lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs.

Mesothelioma is caused by contact with asbestos. In the past, asbestos was used in insulation as well as floor tiles, door gaskets, roofing, patching compounds, and many more products.

When workers breathe asbestos fibers, they can travel to the ends of the small air passages and reach the lining of the lungs damaging the cells lining the lungs which leads to pleural mesothelioma. If swallowed, these asbestos fibers reaching the lining of the stomach.

Do you have an asbestos cancer lawsuit?

People who are at risk for asbestosis are miners, factory workers, makers of insulation, railroad workers, ship builders, gas mask makers, and construction workers. Unfortunately, family members of these workers exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of mesothelioma because asbestos fibers are carried home on workers' clothing.

The risk of getting mesothelioma depends on how much asbestos a person was exposed to and for how long. Mesothelioma cancer takes a long time to develop sometimes decades, between 20 to 50 years. Another important point about asbestos is that the risk of mesothelioma does not drop over time. The risk appears to be a life-long threat and does not diminish over time. Also smokers have a much higher chance of developing fatal lung cancer when exposed to asbestos.

The tireless workers who cleaned up at Ground Zero after the World Trade Center attacks were exposed to asbestos. Asbestos was a major material used in the construction of the World Trade Center. The effort to clean up the tons of concrete and steel took months. In the debris, asbestos was present. Many workers were unprotected as thousands joined in the massive cleanup effort.

In New Orleans, large structures built before 1975 typically contain asbestos pipe wrap, siding, ceiling tiles, and other building materials high in asbestos content. Additionally, structures built after 1975 may also contain asbestos. Despite overwhelming evidence of the chemical's toxic effects, asbestos can still be found in modern use in New Orleans and across the country.

The best way to prevent mesothelioma is to avoid contact with asbestos in homes, public buildings, and at work. If renovating an old building, workers should take special precautions to wear protective gear.

Have you or a loved one been exposed to asbestos while at work? Do you have an asbestos cancer lawsuit? Contact the "of counsel" law firm in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, or New Jersey about your mesothelioma lawsuit.