Mesothelioma death rates have increased between 1999 and 2015, according to a new report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Deaths from malignant mesothelioma increased five percent, from 2,479 to 2,597. In all, more than 45,200 people died from mesothelioma from 1999 to 2015.

The number of people 85 years old and older had higher mesothelioma death rates than people who are under age 65.

The two most prevalent occupations linked to asbestos exposure were shipbuilding and construction, with upwards of 96 percent of verified workplace exposure happening in one of those areas.

The CDC report aligns with another study from the Journal of the American Medical Association that showed mortality rates “increased in nearly all counties” among people suffering from mesothelioma from 1980 to 2014. The cancer death rates in nearly all other categories have been declining due to early detection and better treatment options.

People Unknowingly Exposed to Asbestos Affect Mesothelioma Death Rates

People employed in certain jobs have traditionally had greater risk of asbestos exposure. U.S. military service  members, shipyard 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 have been exposed to second-hand introduction of deadly asbestos fibers and not even been aware of it at the time. Workers who came home with fibers on their clothing could have had another family member shake out the dust before laundering the clothes, exposing others in the household.

Anyone renovating a home built before the 1980s could be exposed if working with asbestos-containing materials such as 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.

What Is Asbestos?

Six types of asbestos minerals exist naturally in the environment. Made of fine, durable, fire-resistant fibers, asbestos was called the “miracle mineral” for many years.

All forms of asbestos are odorless and tasteless. In fact, asbestos can’t be detected by looking at a product. Lab tests are required to confirm asbestos content.

Airborne asbestos fibers that are inhaled or swallowed can lodge in the soft tissue of the lungs or abdomen. The mesothelioma death rates have increased because it can take 20 to 50 years after exposure for the side effects to do damage.

Serpentine asbestos is the type that has long, curly fibers made of the mineral chrysotile. The most commercially used form of asbestos, serpentine asbestos is linked to the increase in the mesothelioma death rates because of its widespread use for heat resistance and fireproof properties.

Brake pads, insulation, and other products that needed to resist heat were made with serpentine asbestos worldwide.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure on the job or otherwise, you could benefit from speaking with a lawyer regarding your possible legal routes to compensation.