When people think of lung cancer, they tend to associate it with heavy smoking. However, the risk between lung cancer and smoking is not the only link. Though comprising a smaller portion of lung cancer diagnoses, exposure to asbestos fibers can also contribute to the development of lung cancer.

In a recent lawsuit over a man’s death from lung cancer, both heavy smoking and exposure to asbestos from brake dust were found to be responsible.

The man, Louis S., died from lung cancer before the trial began. The asbestos lawsuit was filed jointly by Louis and his now widow, Joanna. Louis made a living as a mechanic, alleged the lawsuit, and was a heavy smoker for many years. However, lung cancer and smoking weren’t his only health risks. In his work as a mechanic, Joanna claims, Louis was constantly exposed to asbestos-containing brake dust, contributing to his development of lung cancer.

Louis and Joanna named as defendants the tobacco companies R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris, as well as the auto parts company Hampden Automotive Sales Corporation in the lawsuit. Joanna alleges that Louis’s risk of lung cancer and smoking was increased because of his asbestos exposure while on the job — exposure that Louis should have been warned about.

According to their attorney, Louis suffered “severe damages” after his cancer diagnosis, during treatment and eventually leading to his death. Louis had become addicted to cigarettes as a teenager, and had been a heavy smoker ever since.

However, the lawsuit noted that warning labels didn’t appear on cigarette packaging until 1966—after Louis was already heavily addicted, smoking at least a pack a day. The lawsuit claims that the tobacco companies had already known of the link between lung cancer and smoking, yet failed to warn the public, making the “informed choice to conceal the truth for profit.”

The link between Louis’s risk of lung cancer and smoking was exacerbated by his years’ worth of exposure to asbestos as a mechanic, the lawsuit claims.

Asbestos Link to Lung Cancer and Smoking

Asbestos is now well-known as a dangerous substance, but it was widely used for years, exposing countless workers and others to its carcinogenic fibers. Now, many who have been exposed to asbestos on the job, like Louis, as well as those who suffered second hand exposure are being diagnosed with serious illnesses, including lung cancer.

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that used to be popular for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless others because of its low cost and fire retardant properties. However, the substance was discovered to be extremely carcinogenic causing lung cancer and mesothelioma.

While lung cancer is primarily associated with smoking, around 4 percent of these cases are actually caused by exposure to asbestos. Indeed, according to SEER data, more than 6,000 Americans are killed due to asbestos related lung cancer each year.

The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in a person’s lungs through the air, attacking the lining of the lungs, and then they can quickly spread to distant organs. In many cases, mesothelioma and/or lung cancer can take decades to develop (anywhere from 15 to 35 years), so it is often diagnosed at a later and more dangerous stage of development. Even though the use of asbestos has been heavily regulated in the last few decades, this delay in cancer development means that those exposed to asbestos decades ago are only now being diagnosed with life-threatening cancer.

Symptoms of asbestos lung cancer include persistent coughing, chest discomfort or pain, coughing up blood, swelling of the face or neck, shortness of breath, hoarseness or wheezing, fatigue and loss of appetite, and chronic respiratory infections. Asbestos exposure can work jointly with smoking to increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Asbestos Lung Cancer

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from asbestos lung cancer or another asbestos disease after occupational asbestos exposure, you may be able to file a lawsuit against those responsible for your exposure to the substance. For many, this is the company they worked for as a laborer, or the manufacturer who made asbestos-containing products leading to exposure. Lawsuits alleges that plaintiffs were inadequately warned about the risk, as well as inadequately protected from the danger by their employers who knew or should have known about the risks of asbestos exposure.

While filing a lawsuit over asbestos exposure cannot take away pain and suffering, or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical bills and lost wages.