Most people who develop lung cancer were exposed to toxic asbestos while on the job. In order to pay for the cost of treatment and other damages, patients and families have filed asbestos cancer lawsuits against manufacturers.

The dangers of asbestos to human health were allegedly known for decades by manufacturers and others in the asbestos industry, yet those dangers were not publicized. That failure led to a massive U.S. asbestos legal movement, in which individuals who develop asbestos lung cancer file lawsuits in the hope of being compensated for getting a cancer that they allege never should have happened.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral that consists of very fine microscopic, needle-shaped fibers. It is composed of silicon, oxygen, hydrogen and other metal ions. Asbestos fibers are strong, flexible, resist heat, acids, and friction and are virtually indestructible.

Asbestos has been used in older plastics, paper products and floor tiles. In most cases, asbestos fibers are mixed with a material that binds them together, producing asbestos containing material. Many industrial products are made with asbestos materials including sealants, thermal insulation, fireproofing acoustical texture products, textiles, ceiling tiles, wallboard, siding and roofing and more.

Diseases Caused By Asbestos Exposure

Four diseases have been linked to asbestos exposure:

• Asbestosis: a serious, chronic, non-malignant fibrous hardening and scarring of the lungs
• Pleural plaque and thickening, scarring of the lining of the lung
• Lung cancer
• Mesothelioma: a cancer of the thin membranes lining the thoracic and abdominal cavities and surrounding internal organs.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure

Even though the average asbestos levels in buildings today seem to be very low, an estimated 3 million employees in construction and other industries face significant asbestos exposure on the job. The heaviest exposures are in construction, primarily during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition.

Workers are also likely to be exposed during the manufacturing of asbestos products like textiles, insulation, automotive brake and clutch work. Asbestos-related illness have also occurred in shipyard workers, school custodians and even movie set workers.

Asbestos Exposure Symptoms

Asbestos exposure symptoms vary with each individual. Asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases are often not seen for 15 or more years after the initial asbestos exposure. Because of the latent nature of asbestos-related diseases, regular screening tests should be performed on those who may have been exposed. Asbestos-related diseases are progressive, so when a respiratory problem arises and there is a potential exposure to asbestos, testing should be immediately conducted.

Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawsuits

Anyone who developed an asbestos-related disease because of exposure – particularly because of occupational exposure – has legitimate grounds to consider an asbestos lung cancer lawsuit against the manufacturers of asbestos products related to the exposure.

For many people diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer or another asbestos disease, compensation from filing an asbestos lung cancer lawsuit may mean that they get the financial help necessary to get the best medical treatment. It also helps take care of their loved ones and families.

Filing an asbestos lung cancer lawsuit can help deflect the considerable costs of treatment, compensate for emotional and physical hardship, and make sure companies responsible for the exposure are held accountable.