The asbestos problem in Libby, Mont., which originated from a nearby vermiculite mine, has been well-known since the 1990s. Though the mine closed in 1990 after six decades of use, cleanup by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) didn’t begin until late 1999.

But even though cleanup of the Libby asbestos problem has been completed, the terrible consequences of asbestos exposure are continuing to make themselves known. Indeed, diseases related to Libby asbestos exposure may take decades—40 years or even more—for symptoms to develop. This means that, for residents of Libby, more and more will continue to be diagnosed with deadly asbestos disease in the years to come.

Even those who were not directly exposed from the mine (that is, neither they nor their family members worked there) but lived in the area are now regularly being diagnosed with asbestos-related disease. In many cases, these diseases have led to death.

Asbestos-related disease that can be caused by Libby asbestos exposure includes several possible conditions: mesothelioma cancer, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

According to a Charlotte Observer article, Libby resident Gayla Benefield worked with Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Andrew Schneider when he first released his stories of the Libby asbestos problems in 1999. Gayla has lost many family members to asbestos diseases, including her parents and husband. She, too, has been diagnosed with asbestos-related disease—along with four of her five children, ranging in age from 47 to 53.

Because of the loss of countless friends and family members, she tells the Oberver, “I’m almost numb to losing people now.”

If you or someone you love has suffered from asbestos disease after exposure to the dangerous substance, you may be able to file a lawsuit.

Asbestos Basics

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. However, the material is now known to be hazardous, and regulations regarding the use of asbestos have been in place for decades. The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in a person’s lungs via the air, attacking the lining of the lungs, and then quickly spreads to distant organs. Asbestos exposure can cause several serious health problems, including asbestos lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

Because of the decades-long latency period for asbestos diseases, they are often diagnosed at a late stage of development, when it has reached its 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 related 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.

Filing an Asbestos Cancer Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has suffered from asbestos lung cancer or other asbestos disease, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. While filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by asbestos lung cancer, or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.