Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that came into widespread use during the Industrial Revolution. The material is both fire resistant, even at industrial temperatures, and an exceptional insulator. Unfortunately, asbestos is linked to a number of serious health problems, including asbestos lung cancer.

Cancer is any group of cells in the body that have started growing uncontrollably. These cells no longer perform any useful function in the body, but compete with healthy cells for space and resources. Cancer is typically named for the part of the body where it originates. Any number of chemicals can promote the formation of cancer cells by damaging genes or other biochemical means the body uses to regulate cell division.

Asbestos is among the substances known to increase the risk of cancer. There is some uncertainty about the exact mechanism behind why microscopic asbestos fibers cause cancer, but it is possible that the fibers are small enough to actually physically damage DNA, promoting dangerous mutations that can lead to asbestos lung cancer and other cancers.

Asbestos lung cancer is one of several types of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. Most asbestos-related cancers are of the chest, since the most common route of exposure is through inhaling microscopic particles of asbestos dust. Mesotheliomais another asbestos-related cancer, though it is distinct from asbestos lung cancer. Mesothelioma behaves slightly different than asbestos lung cancer and starts in a thin membrane called the mesothelium in the chest cavity rather than the lungs themselves.

Who’s at Risk?

In general people who frequently worked with asbestos have the highest risk of asbestos lung cancer and other asbestos health risks. People who worked directly with the mineral have the highest risk, including workers who mined it, machined it, or installed it. Asbestos’s useful properties led to widespread use for decades in building construction, shipbuilding, automotives, and other manufacturing industries. Though the material was ultimately phased out in the US through a series of bans, it can take decades for diseases like asbestos lung cancer to fully manifest.

Additionally, even in countries like the United States where asbestos has been more-or-less banned, existing buildings still pose a potential asbestos lung cancer risk. Many building have asbestos built into their ceiling tiles or into the walls for fireproofing and insulation. Undisturbed, this material poses little risk, but if these walls are opened up, workers may risk asbestos lung cancer. As such, workers who remodel building built before the 1980s may disturb old asbestos, risking asbestos lung cancer.

One group at risk for asbestos cancers that might not be on most peoples’ radar is first responders. Firefighters and police who respond to collapsing and burning buildings may inhale asbestos fibers, increasing their risk of asbestos lung cancer. In fact, there is concern that many of the 9/11 first responders may have been exposed to asbestos dust after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawsuits

Millions have been exposed to asbestos in the US alone. This has led to numerous high-profile asbestos lawsuits, including record-breaking multi-million dollar asbestos lawsuit settlements.

Many companies that worked with asbestos have set aside million-dollar trust funds to compensate former workers who develop asbestos lung cancer and other asbestos cancers. Asbestos lawsuits typically allege that companies working with asbestos were aware of the potential risks associated with the mineral, but exposed workers anyway. In fact, the medical community was aware of the serious risks linked to asbestos exposure dating back as far as the 1920s, making it hard to deny knowledge of the risk of asbestos-related illness.