Robert J. Boumis  |  October 1, 2014

Category: Consumer News

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asbestos-signThe National Cancer Institute reports the September 11th attacks may have resulted in several thousand new asbestos exposures.

Asbestos was among the building components of the World Trade Center, and when the towers fell, this material was scattered across the area. Nearly 70 percent of responders to the attack suffered new or worsening lung diseases, a possible prelude to problems like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

The institute also states that contemporary asbestos exposures could include firefighters, who could be tearing into older buildings in the course of rescue work; automotive workers, since some cars still in circulation include asbestos components; and workmen involved in remodeling older homes, which may have asbestos insulation.

Additionally, some asbestos exposures could date back decades, before the ban on the material. It can take decades after asbestos exposure to develop some asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, and other diseases. This means that workers exposed decades ago could still be developing life-threatening diseases from asbestos exposure. Not only do asbestos workers themselves suffer from diseases linked to asbestos exposure, but family members who lived with them suffer from higher rates of asbestos-related illness, possibly from asbestos fibers stuck to workers’ clothing.

Asbestos is a group of naturally-occurring minerals. Due to the minerals’ usefulness, they came into widespread use during the Industrial Revolution. For example, asbestos is both an exceptional insulator and virtually fireproof at industrial temperatures. The material was widely used in building construction, shipbuilding, and mechanical components. However, health concerns related to asbestos became apparent rapidly, and by nearly 100 years ago, health researchers were aware of the connection between asbestos exposure and health problems.

According to the Nation Cancer Institute’s fact sheet, nearly every person is exposed to low levels of asbestos throughout their lives, since the material was widely used as a building material. However, the fact sheet states that low-level asbestos exposure is not as big a concern. But people who worked directly with asbestos may have more serious asbestos exposures, and are more likely to suffer from asbestos-related illnesses like asbestos cancers. Additionally, one massive asbestos exposure could have significant health impacts.

Asbestos was largely phased out in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.

Among the diseases connected to asbestos exposure are mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, and asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a cancer that starts in membranes within the body, including the lining of the chest cavity. Asbestos lung cancer is cancer of the lung tissue. According to the cancer institute, patients with a history of asbestos exposure and smoking are at particularly high risk for lung cancer. Asbestosis is a disease caused by scarring in the lungs from the action of asbestos fibers on lung tissue. Its symptoms are similar to emphysema or COPD. These disorders have some treatments, but none can be cured.

In general, asbestos lung cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

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