Former students in the California Central Valley are taking a stand against their former school district saying they experienced an asbestos cancer risk when they were students.

Sixty-one former students are claiming that during a job-training program, they were exposed to an asbestos cancer riskand are now filing a lawsuit against their former school district.

The attorney for the plaintiffs alleges that 10 years ago, the school district renovated old buildings that were laden with asbestos at an unused military base. He says that proper safety protection was not used in the renovation.

A completely separate case found that the three men who ran this program through a non-profit organization were found guilty and then sent to prison.

The attorney for the plaintiffs claims that because of this asbestos cancer risk, the former students are now owed lifelong coverage for preventative health checkups as well as damages because of the fear that they now may contract cancer.

Asbestos Cancer Risk

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in the earth that is linked to lung problems such as asbestosis, lung disease, and mesothelioma. The asbestos cancer risk is high when people are in the vicinity of disturbed asbestos products.

Asbestosis is the scarring of lung tissue by asbestos fibers. When fibers are inhaled, it is nearly impossible for the lungs to exhale them. They remain in the lungs and produce scarring.

Asbestos fibers can also irritate the surface of the lung which leads to lung disease. This irritation of the pleura, or the lining of the lungs, can result in the hardening or calcification of the lining tissue.

Mesothelioma, or the cancer of the outer lining of the lungs, is also caused by asbestos inhalation.

Mesothelioma is almost exclusively only caused by asbestos, according to current information. However, when someone experiences asbestos exposure, development of cancer and other asbestos related problems can take anywhere from 10 to 40 years.

Asbestos has been used throughout the last century in a variety of building materials and as a flame retardant. It is also used in brake pads for cars. When it is found today, it is usually found in old homes or buildings in the pipes, roof, furnaces, floor tiles or paint.

Because asbestos cancer risk diagnosis often occurs many years after exposure, most current patients were once exposed to asbestos in mines, mills, factories or older homes while removing or installing asbestos-laden items.

Current sources of asbestos exposure are during asbestos removal and general construction. Even so, the number of deaths from asbestosis has increased in the last 20 years.