Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial cells that line the chest and abdominal cavities. This type of cancer was very rare until commercial and industrial buildings were constructed using materials that contained asbestos.

After much research, scientists concluded that inhaling asbestos fibers was responsible for setting off a cascade of events in the body that lead to various cancers, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos is also the culprit behind asbestosis, an incurable breathing disorder.

Mesothelioma Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma, but there are individual risk factors that could increase a person’s likelihood of actually developing the cancer. These include:

• Occupations in asbestos mines or asbestos processing facilities
• Occupations in a high risk setting, especially in the automotive or construction industry
• Military service on ships or other locations constructed with asbestos-containing building materials
• Living in housing near an asbestos mine
• Home renovations that have disturbed asbestos products without the use of adequate safety measures

Sources of Asbestos Exposure

While it is not common today, asbestos filled many homes and businesses in the U.S. just decades ago. At the conclusion of World War II, construction boomed, and asbestos was a main component of such building items as indoor drywall and ceilings, electrical wiring, cement, roof shingles, and adhesives.

Asbestos in old structures is mostly inert if it is not disturbed. When renovations happen, however, asbestos is stirred up and the small fibers are released into the air.

Workplace exposure accounts for the majority of asbestos contact. The more workers came into contact with asbestos, the greater their risk. The most dangerous occupations for asbestos exposure include:

• Auto mechanics
• Boiler workers
• Chemical plant workers
• Construction workers and craftspeople
• Shipyard workers
• Industrial workers
• Insulators
• Power plant workers
• Shipyard workers

Spouses, children and others living in the households were exposed to the small fibers in their loved ones’ clothing, hair and tools, thereby increasing their likelihood of developing mesothelioma, cancer, and asbestosis.

Environmental Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in the environment, and there are areas of large concentration near hills and mountains. Asbestos mines, however, present the biggest danger of exposure. There are no operating asbestos mines currently in the U.S., but people who live near mines still continue to suffer the serious health effects of asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Effective treatment for mesothelioma continues to be a challenge for physicians. It is considered a rare cancer with only about 3,000 people being diagnosed each year, so the lack of available participants for research studies affects pioneering new ways to treat mesothelioma. Conventional therapies are typically used, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Mesothelioma Lawsuit Information

If you or a loved one has suffered from mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis or any other condition related to asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to a legal compensation. To discuss your situation confidentially with an attorney, please fill out the form to obtain a complimentary, no-risk evaluation.