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A Million Little Fibers: Asbestos and Cancer
By Robert J. Boumis
Asbestos fibers occur in the Earth’s crust as a silica-based mineral. Asbestos has been mined sporadically throughout history. The earliest example of human use is pottery from Lake Juojärvi in Finland, which contained asbestos. However, it was not mined on an industrial scale until the 19th century. Mines sprang up in Russia, China, Canada, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and other countries. The mineral was widely used as a building material and an insulator.
Asbestos Fibers and Cancer
The glass-like fibers of asbestos are responsible for the usefulness and the health hazards of asbestos. When woven or formed into a solid surface, asbestos works well as an insulator, preventing heat loss and lowering heating costs. It is also renowned for its resistance to heat, and was often used in fireproofing.
These same fibers can lead to serious health problems, including cancers. Several mechanisms have been suggested. It is possible that the fibers actually damage chromosomes directly, or disrupt mitosis in somatic cells. Others suggest that asbestos fibers cause chronic, serious inflammation, which can lead to cancer. While the specific mechanism is in question, the connection between asbestos and various forms of cancer is well documented.
The most famous asbestos-related cancer is malignant mesothelioma. Contrary to popular belief, this cancer starts in the pleura lining the lungs, not the lungs themselves. Outside of asbestos workers, this cancer is extremely rare. In most of the cases where people develop mesothelioma without working with asbestos, it is often discovered that the patient lived near naturally-occurring asbestos deposits, cleaned clothing worn by asbestos workers, or worked in buildings with asbestos.
Some of the symptoms of mesothelioma include:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Persistent wheezing cough
- Coughing up blood
This is not a comprehensive list.
Asbestos is also associated with several other health problems. One of these is asbestosis, a lung disease caused by chronic exposure to asbestos. In asbestosis, asbestos fibers cause scarring in lung tissue, resulting in reduced lung capacity and shortness of breath. Asbestosis also increases the risk of developing cancers. In addition to mesothelioma, asbestos can cause cancers of the lungs themselves.
Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits
Lawsuits in the 1970s revealed that the manufacturers of asbestos-bearing products knew about the health risks related to asbestos since the 1930s at the very latest, and concealed them from their workers and the general public.
One complication with mesothelioma asbestos lawsuits is that there can be a delay of decades between asbestos exposure and developing the symptoms of mesothelioma, asbestosis and other asbestos diseases. In some cases, mesothelioma may not develop until 20 to 50 years, or even longer, after exposure to asbestos. Under the legal system, there is a statute of limitations, or a time limit for people to file a lawsuit. Some districts have altered their laws to accommodate this, not “starting the clock” until the patient is diagnosed with a disease.
If you or someone you know has mesothelioma or other asbestos-related cancer, you may feel powerless or not sure how to proceed. But you can take steps to get a handle on your situation. You can start by visiting the Mesothelioma Asbestos Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation page. Here, you can submit your information for review by a lawyer who specializes in this type of lawsuit. This consultation is free of charge. From here, you can receive guidance on the best way to proceed.
Updated April 25th, 2013
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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