Mesothelioma causes are limited to direct and secondary asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure is known to be responsible for a variety of health issues, including:
- Malignant mesothelioma
- Asbestos lung cancer
- Asbestosis
- Diffuse pleural thickening
- Fibrosis
Asbestos as a cause of mesothelioma was discovered in connection with occupational exposure to the mineral. Asbestos miners, factory workers, shipyard workers and construction workers were the most likely to contract the deadly disease and amongst the first victims. Mesothelioma is a latent disease that can take anywhere from 30 to 40 years to become symptomatic. A number of cases of mesothelioma where therefore reported within similar windows of time, displaying similar occupational backgrounds. Establishing the link back to asbestos (which was already linked to a number of aforementioned diseases) was a relatively simple task.
Although other causes of mesothelioma have not been ruled out, asbestos exposure is the only known cause thus far.
Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. The ingestion and inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers are the most common causes of mesothelioma. Nine out of ten cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral, mined from rock found in many countries. It is made up of tiny fibers that are as strong as steel but can be woven like cotton and are highly resistant to heat and chemicals.
The people likely to have been exposed to asbestos include:
- Construction workers
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Boilermakers
- Shipbuilders
- Demolition workers
- School workers
- Iron workers
- Cabinet makers
- People who lived near to asbestos factories
- People who worked in places where asbestos was present.
- Family members of workers who worked with asbestos and brought the dust home on their clothes.
Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be passed on to other people. It is not caused by inherited faulty genes and so family members do not have an increased risk of developing it, unless they have been in contact with asbestos.
Those dealing with asbestos and mesothelioma face a number of challenges, including the tremendous costs of treatment. If you were unknowingly exposed to harmful levels of asbestos, you have legal rights and there is help available for you.
Deciding which law firm to represent you and your case is very important. Choosing the right law firm will also be important to your settlement. You are entitled to an experienced mesothelioma law firm who has a track record of success in asbestos lawsuits.
It is not uncommon for there to be 10-20 parties that are named in a asbestos lawsuit that are located across the United States. For example, a worker in California may have been exposed to asbestos from asbestos products shipped from Libby, Montana or from an iron ore plant in St. Paul Minnesota. This is why it is very important to obtain an experienced asbestos mesothelioma law firm that knows all of the companies in each state who have responsibility for your asbestos exposure.
If you are a grieving family member or executor of the will of a person who has died from asbestos-related disease or mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a claim as well. |
We help with you file Mesothelioma and Asbestos-related claims in each state
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