Joanna Szabo  |  November 18, 2020

Category: Asbestos

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man with asbestosis using oxygen mask

Pulmonary fibrosis is an umbrella term referring to a variety of lung disorders. One common form, asbestosis, is caused by exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a dangerous mineral and a human carcinogen—that is, a substance capable of causing cancer in humans. It was once widely used across a number of industries, but due to the associated risks like asbestos lung cancer, is now more heavily regulated.

Asbestos fibers can get trapped inside the body’s digestive tract or respiratory tract, leading to illnesses like pulmonary fibrosis, cancer, and more. Asbestos-related illnesses are usually caused by inhaling fibers while at work, often either by using products containing asbestos or by working construction or renovation on older buildings. Many older buildings still contain asbestos despite regulations on this mineral, and it is still found in the construction and repair industry, often during renovation products on older buildings.

Even taking the proper precautions, “there is no ‘safe’ level of asbestos exposure for any type of asbestos fiber,” the Occupational Safety and Health Administrationwarns. Indeed, even a few days of asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma and other illnesses. Employers are required to protect their workers and inform them of the risks.

Work-related cases of asbestos exposure have led to countless pulmonary fibrosis asbestos lawsuits, a trend the Mesothelioma Asbestos Awareness Center expects to peak this year.

What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?

We can learn a lot about what pulmonary fibrosis is just by looking at the meanings of the words themselves: pulmonary means lung and fibrosis means scar tissue. Simply put, pulmonary fibrosis is scarring of the lungs.

According to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, pulmonary scar tissue can build up over time, destroying normal lungs and reducing the ability for oxygen to enter the blood. Scar tissue combined with low oxygen levels can cause sufferers to feel short of breath, particularly during physical activity.

Pulmonary fibrosis is actually an umbrella term that covers roughly 200 different lung-scarring disorders including a variety of asbestos-related pulmonary disorders, such as asbestosis, pleural disorders, and lung cancer. These disorders are caused by exposure to asbestos fibers and include both malignant and benign inflammatory fibrosis, according to Pulmonary Adviser.

Pulmonary fibrosis can cause a myriad of symptoms, including but not limited to:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry, hacking, persistent cough
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Aching muscles and joints
  • Clubbing (widening/rounding of tips of fingers or toes)

Pulmonary fibrosis can lead to certain serious complications as well, such as:

  • High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
  • Right-sided heart failure
  • Respiratory failure
  • Lung cancer
  • Lung complications

What Are the Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Finding the cause of your pulmonary fibrosis can be challenging for doctors, but there are five main causes: drug-induced, radiation-induced, environmental, autoimmune, occupational, and idiopathic. Idiopathic causes are causes that can’t be identified.

In the first category, doctors have identified several drugs affecting the lungs that have been linked to pulmonary fibrosis. These drugs include those used to treat cancer, abnormal heart rhythms, inflammatory conditions, and some urinary tract infections. Radiation-induced fibrosis is similar in that it is normally caused by radiation used in the process of treating cancers.

The third category, environmental causes, affects some people more than others. Mold spores, animal proteins, and bacteria have each been known to cause scarring in some susceptible individuals. Similarly, some individuals may be more susceptible to certain pulmonary fibrosis disorders due to autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, or polymyositis.

Finally, pulmonary fibrosis can be the result of workplace exposure. Certain jobs, including mining, automotive work, construction, railroad or shipyard work, refineries and mills, and factories, for example, are known to expose workers and can cause scarring. Silica, coal dust, beryllium, and asbestos are all linked to pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestosis diseases are harder to treat due to the latency of symptoms.

There are various risk factors associated with pulmonary fibrosis that may make a person more susceptible, such as age, sex, smoking history, occupation, cancer treatment, and genetics.

In many cases, doctors may be unable to pinpoint what exactly is the cause of your pulmonary fibrosis. In these instances, it is referred to as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The lung damaged caused by pulmonary fibrosis is permanent and cannot be repaired. However, treatments including medications and therapies can help ease the symptoms of this condition and improve the quality of life for the patient. In some cases, a patient may require a lung transplant.

Who is at Risk of Pulmonary Asbestosis?

asbestos lung cancer mesothelioma insulationPulmonary asbestosis, or asbestos-related pulmonary fibrosis, is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers and usually arises decades after the exposure. Those most at risk of pulmonary asbestosis are people working to manufacture products containing asbestos, miners and millers of asbestos, and others who frequently come into contact with the fibers in their line of work. This includes electricians, sheet metal workers, insulators, plumbers, pipefitters, and carpenters, all of whom may come into contact with asbestos during construction. Power plant workers, shipyard workers, boilermakers, and automotive manufacturers may also be exposed to the fibrous dust.

In each of these lines of work, a person is at greater risk if proper safety precautions aren’t followed or if there is a family history of pulmonary disorders.

Have any Pulmonary Fibrosis Asbestos Lawsuits Been Filed?

According to the Mesothelioma Asbestos Awareness Center, the first case of an individual filing a pulmonary fibrosis asbestos lawsuit was in 1929. Though it was thrown out of court in 1934, it paved the way for future asbestos-related litigation. Asbestos-related lawsuits in the 1920s also go to show how long companies have been familiar with this issue.  Plaintiffs often argue that companies knew or should have known about the risk posed to workers by asbestos-exposure.

A massive wave of asbestos litigation hit the courts in the 1980s with the overhaul of laws surrounding class action lawsuits. However, that wave is nothing compared to the asbestos cases expected to be filed in the coming years. This is largely due to the delay between exposure to asbestos and the onset of pulmonary fibrosis and the fact that asbestos-use peaked in the 1970s.

Should You Join a Class Action Lawsuit for Pulmonary Fibrosis?

A growing number of patients are coming forward with claims of asbestos exposure leading to a number of serious health complications, including diagnoses of pulmonary fibrosis.  Plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against companies that allowed exposure to asbestos without proper warning or protections.

If you’ve developed asbestosis or another lung disease after exposure to asbestos, you may be eligible to file or join a class action lawsuit for pulmonary fibrosis. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by asbestos-related cancers, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, you may be able to win compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with a cancer diagnosis or the death of a loved one, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a Free Asbestos Cancer Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos and were subsequently diagnosed with the following asbestos-related illnesses:

  • Mesothelioma
  • Lung cancer
  • Larynx cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Pulmonary asbestosis
  • Asbestos-related pleural disease,

… then you may be eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses you have experienced.

If your loved one has passed away, you may also be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation for funeral expenses and other costs associated with your loved one’s illness.

Obtain a free case review now by filling out the form on this page.

An asbestos attorney will contact you if you potentially qualify to file an asbestos lawsuit or class action lawsuit. There is no cost or obligation associated with this case evaluation.

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