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Asbestos
The Connection To Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a mineral that is found naturally in the environment. Asbestos is strong and resistant to heat which makes it useful in a wide variety of applications.
Asbestos fibers have been used to make insulation, cement, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products. In addition, asbestos was once widely used in variety of industries - including the oil and plastics industry, construction, and shipbuilding - to manufacture a variety of household and industrial products in the United States and around the world.
It appears that Asbestos exposure may play a role in 70 to 80 percent of mesothelioma cases.
People who work around asbestos fibers are thought to have the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma. When asbestos is broken up — for instance, in the mining process or in removing asbestos insulation from a building — dust containing asbestos may be created.
If the asbestos dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers may settle in the lungs or in the stomach, where they can cause irritation that may lead to mesothelioma.
Although asbestos is still used in a limited number of industries, the federal government limits the amount of asbestos fibers workers may be exposed to and sets rules to protect workers.
Mesothelioma risk is believed to be increased in people who are exposed to high levels of asbestos, in people who are exposed to asbestos over a long period of time and in people exposed to asbestos at a young age. It can take 30 to 40 years or more for mesothelioma to develop as a result of asbestos exposure.
Researchers have identified other possible factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma, including:
- Simian Virus 40 - Some research indicates a link between mesothelioma and simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus originally found in monkeys, and exposed to people through the polio vaccine.
- Radiation - Some research links thorium dioxide use in X-rays from the 1920 – 1950’s to mesothelioma.
- Asbestos-like minerals - A naturally occurring asbestos-like mineral called zeolite has been linked to mesothelioma cases.
- Family history - More research is needed to determine whether family history may predispose some people to mesothelioma.
Please navigate to the links below to find more information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos and what patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma can do to protect their legal rights or contact us to learn about your legal rights.
We are here to help people diagnosed with mesothelioma protect their legal rights and the legal rights of their loved ones.
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