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MESOTHELIOMA
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DANGERS OF ASBESTOS A Short History of Asbestos and Mesothelioma Well over a century ago, asbestos was seen as an ideal building material, it was an excellent insulator, fireproof, and relatively inexpensive. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos was used in the construction of industrial sites, office buildings, schools, shipyards homes, and everyday items such as ironing boards, dryers, toasters, and low-density insulation products. Beginning at the turn of the 20th century, researchers began to see a correlation between the unusually large numbers of deaths and lung problems in asbestos mining towns. In the 1930's, numerous and well-known medical journals published scientific studies that linked asbestos to cancer. In 1935, the American Journal of Cancer published "Pulmonary Asbestosis: Carcinoma of the Lung in Asbesto-Silicosis." In 1955, scientists confirmed what they had long suspected; there was a unmistakable connection between the ingestion of asbestos fibers and the development of certain forms of lung cancer (what later came to be known as mesothelioma). Despite the growing evidence of asbestos’s health risks, manufacturers and companies continued its use for many of their projects. In all likelihood, these manufacturers were aware of the potential health risks but choose to ignore them. These same companies also ignored using safer alternative materials like fiberglass that were then being developed. Unfortunately, the victims were, for the most part, men of working families who had no knowledge of the potential health risks they faced. The first lawsuits against the manufacturers
and companies responsible for asbestos related cancer were brought
to suit in 1929. Since then, numerous lawsuits have been filed against
those responsible for asbestos use and proliferation. Many if these
cases have resulted in large settlements for victims and the families
of victims of mesothelioma. Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals whose fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are long, thin and flexible, allowing them to be turned into cloth. Of the many forms of asbestos fibers, three are primarily used for commercial purposes:
Amphibole asbestos (e.g. amosite and crocidolite) is very dangerous because of its dusty, needlelike fibers. Individuals that are exposed to this type of asbestos ingest the dust, which then becomes trapped in the lungs indefinitely. Over time, this can lead to asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers not often used for commercial purposes include tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite. However, these fibers are occasionally used as contaminants in asbestos-containing products. Which Products Contain(ed) Asbestos? Asbestos-containing products are used to contain heat—otherwise known as thermal insulation. Most insulation materials before the mid-1970s did contain some degree of asbestos. Countless products have, at one time or another, contained asbestos, including (but not limited to): thermal seals, insulating cement, asbestos cloth, asbestos cement pipe, pipe-covering, refractory and boiler insulation materials, packing materials, fireproofing spray, transite board, gaskets, insulating block, joint compound, duct insulation for heating, vinyl floor tile, ceiling tile, adhesives, mastics, coatings, roofing products, acoustical textures, insulated electrical wire and panels, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and brake and clutch assemblies. Does Asbestos Still Pose a Health Risk? Asbestos continues to be a health risk because it may still be part of buildings and products that were built decades ago. Asbestos-containing products may still be in industrial facilities, buildings, ships, and other structures and products where the fibers can become airborne. The ingestion of these fibers is the cause of malignant mesothelioma. More importantly, malignant mesothelioma can develop up to 40 years after the initial exposure. The incidence of mesothelioma rises with the intensity and duration of exposure to asbestos. Cases have been documented of mesothelioma among people with very little exposure to the dangerous asbestos fibers. Many of those who are being diagnosed with mesothelioma today were unknowingly exposed during their time in the Navy many years ago. Tradesmen who have a risk of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma include:
If you or someone you know has a health risk associated with asbestos exposure, you’re entitled to know your legal rights.
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