Asbestos Related Mesothelioma Cases are on the Rise
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate material that has been used for more than 4,000 years and used by the ancient Greeks and Romans and throughout history because of its fire electricity and heat resistance, sound absorption, average tensile strength, and low cost. Asbestos is an effective insulator, and it can also be mixed into cloth, paper, cement, plastic and other materials to make them stronger.
Asbestos products were used extensively in the US from the late 1800s until the 1950s when it was determined that it was a severe health hazard to humans. Asbestos is very fibrous and these fibers when inhaled can become trapped in the lungs. Over time they will cause serious health issues and even death.
Asbestos has been used extensively in commercial buildings, homes, bridges, and other construction projects. And once its dangers became known its use was halted. There still remains however millions of structures that still contain asbestos because its total removal is just too costly. The current approach is to remove asbestos when it becomes exposed and when a structure that has asbestos is torn down, it is done carefully and replaced with a new structure that is asbestos free.
There have been hundreds of thousands of deaths attributed to asbestos. Deaths have come from a variety of illnesses and one of the most insidious is Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, heart, stomach and other organs. The disease is most often contracted by those who have either worked in an industry that utilized asbestos as a core material. Although Mesothelioma is a relatively rare disease with incidences of 1 in every 100,000 males and 0.3 in every 100,000 females it is nearly always terminal. Compounding things, the disease typically takes 20-50 years to appear, with the highest risk around 30-35 years after exposure.
The Incidences of Mesothelioma has increased over the past several years. According to recent study, during 1999–2015, the number of malignant mesothelioma deaths increased 4.8% and there are now about 3.000 new cases every year. Each year more than 2.500 people die from mesothelioma. This confirms the reality that asbestos is still a problem in the US today and mesothelioma illness and death will continue.
US deaths from mesothelioma are generally older Americans who have been exposed to asbestos over long periods of time. But it is important to note that young people, if routinely exposed to asbestos fibers over a period of time, may also develop the disease. Asbestos does not leave the body, so there is a cumulative effect that over time builds up in the body.
Mesothelioma is a painful and debilitating disease that requires continuous treatment leading to long hospital stays and as a result is it very expensive to treat. Many families that receive the diagnosis are wiped out by the bills associated with treatment.
Contraction of mesothelioma almost always occurs as a result of exposure from a job or asbestos contaminated site. In the event of a diagnosis, the first call should be a law firm like New Jersey based CPR Law that specializes in mesothelioma cases. They can review your case and help to determine if there was an organization that was likely responsible for you or your loved one contracting the disease. If so, they will pursue litigation against them in court.
Pursuing litigation of a case involving mesothelioma is complicated and experts Like CPR Law are required. A victory can mean that you or your loved one will receive a settlement that will pay all medical bills and compensation for loss of income and pain and suffering.