The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report that details the economic impact of using the deadly mineral: WHO found that it costs four times as much to treat asbestos-related diseases than it does to manufacture the deadly material.

As a result, WHO is seeking a worldwide ban on asbestos production and use.

Many people are aware that exposure to the natural mineral asbestos can lead to the development of lung cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. states than more Americans lose their lives to lung cancer than to any other cancer. More than 4,800 die of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

How Are People Exposed to Asbestos?

While the United States no longer produces the carcinogen, asbestos is still used in some products, including protective clothing, pipe insulation, brake linings and similar objects that need to be heat- and fire-resistant. Asbestos can only be used in a product if there is no equivalent substitute for it.

Breathing asbestos fibers today probably won’t result in any immediate effects, but 10 to 50 years from exposure, when those fibers have settled into the lungs, that cancer can develop. Because of the long period of time between exposure and becoming symptomatic, scientists expect the largest number of asbestos cancer diagnoses will peak between 2015 to 2020 in the U.S.

Even smokers can contract asbestos cancer in their lungs rather than from cigarette smoke. Many asbestos cancer lawyers have won class action lawsuits against companies that exposed workers to asbestos fibers, even when some of the plaintiffs had smoked cigarettes. Compensation to asbestos cancer victims and their families has totaled millions of dollars.

Who Is at Risk?

People employed in certain jobs have traditionally had greater risk of asbestos exposure. U.S. Navy, U.S. Military, shipyards workers, auto mechanics, paper mill workers, construction workers and linotype technicians could have been exposed at their workplace and not even realize it.

Family members of these workers could also have been exposed to second-hand introduction of deadly asbestos fibers when the workers came home with fibers on their clothing, which other family members could shake out to remove the fiber dust and then launder.

Anyone renovating a home built before the 1980s could be exposed if working with insulation, cement, drywall, electrical insulation, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and other construction items. These building materials are normally not a risk in their final state, but once they are cut, the asbestos fibers enter the air where they can be inhaled.

Companies That Allegedly Allowed Asbestos Exposure

Many companies are being accused of knowingly exposing their employees to the deadly carcinogen. Among the companies that are facing asbestos cancer class action lawsuits are:

• Alcoa (Aluminum Co. Of America)/(F/K/A Reynolds Metals)
• Amoco (American Oil Co.) /Pan American Refining/Standard Oil Co.
• Arco (Atlantic Richfield Company) / Sinclair / Atlantic Richfield / Koppers
• F. Goodrich Chemical Co.
• Babcock & Wilcox Company
• Basf / Dow Badische / Badische Chemical / Dow Chemical
• Bethlehem Steel Co.***
• Catepillar Tractor Co
• Chevron/Phillips Chemical/Petroleum Company/Gulf Oil ***
• Duke Power Co.
• Dupont Co./Dupont Chemical
• Exxon/Mobil Oil Corp Chemical/Refinery/Humble Oil And Refining/Magnolia Oil
• General Electric Co.
• Monsanto Chemical Co.
• Proctor And Gamble
• Texaco Oil/Chemical / Neches Butane / Jefferson Chemical / Huntsman Corp.
• United States Steel Corporation
• Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.

If you, or a loved one, were diagnosed with lung cancer and worked for a company that exposed them to asbestos, you may have legal recourse.