How To Find A Good Asbestos Attorney

Factory workers and miners are sometimes exposed to dangerous effects of asbestos without their knowledge. Prolonged exposure may cause a form of cancer that is known as mesothelioma. It is difficult to diagnose this disease in its initial stages. People are absolutely helpless when they are diagnosed with mesothelioma in its advanced stage.

Patients need to select a particular asbestos attorney who will fight their case efficiently with dedication. Experienced and reputed lawyers may charge extremely high fees but have more chances of winning than cheap lawyers. It is difficult to evaluate the competency of a lawyer. People need to place faith in their lawyer and trust their instincts while selecting one.

Some lawyers charge a contingency fee. They get a percentage of the compensation money, which patients receive as a result of resolution of their asbestos lawsuit. Lawyers do not collect percentage of compensation but do collect other kinds of fees such as court fees, copying fees and fees for hiring of expert witnesses in case they are unable to secure compensation for their client. A contingency fee is an ideal way for customers to fight a case who cannot afford high fees of lawyers. Nevertheless, compensation is not guaranteed and patients need to be prepared for it.

Customers may check the background of particular lawyers to get an idea of their experience and past cases won by them. Some lawyers make an effort to update themselves by attending continuing legal education every year to keep themselves abreast of latest developments regarding asbestos related compensation claims.

Other kinds of lawyers charge on amount of time and effort spent on a particular case whether they win or lose. Charges are based on time spent by them and their staff on that particular case Thus a lot of care and study is required to select a good asbestos attorney.

Asbestos Attorneys provides detailed information on Asbestos Attorneys, Asbestos Cancer Attorneys, Asbestos Litigation Attourneys, Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys and more. Asbestos Attorneys is affiliated with Asbestos Trial Lawyers.

Top Asbestos Attorneys

Asbestos is a mineral made of tough, supple, and flexible fiber. Neither chemicals nor heat have any effect on asbestos. It is widely used in many industries. However, this fiber can be easily inhaled or swallowed. Exposure to asbestos can cause various ailments such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, and cancer of the larynx, oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney. Top attorneys have joined hands with workers, to fight for the safety of workers and against the disastrous effects of asbestos.

Numerous health provisions were incorporated for people affected by the hazards of asbestos. Asbestos is not banned, but laws have been framed to protect workers exposed to the effects of asbestos. Asbestos attorneys protect the rights and provide compensation to the afflicted individuals. The hazardous effects of asbestos have created awareness amongst many citizens.

Asbestos attorneys include a team of specialized and qualified attorneys who represent the applicant. When considering a lawsuit, people need to find a topmost attorney who can handle the case well because they are mostly filed against established companies. These companies may use tactics to deceive the court or cover up some vital information. As the law has included provisions that define the adverse effects of asbestos-related sicknesses, the patient can prove his or her case with the help of medical reports and employment terms and conditions with the defaulting company. The asbestos attorneys help the workers in the recovery of compensation related to medical expenses, loss of job, financial crunches and after effects of the disease.

Top asbestos attorneys have developed the most original, insistent, and dynamic strategies in the nation to protect their client's rights. These attorneys prepare every case for trial rather than rushing to an appeal haggle. This broad preparation and exceptional courtroom reputation actually keeps most cases from trial and produce better results.

Many online sites provide information about asbestos attorneys.

Asbestos Attorneys provides detailed information on Asbestos Attorneys, Asbestos Cancer Attorneys, Asbestos Litigation Attourneys, Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys and more. Asbestos Attorneys is affiliated with Asbestos Trial Lawyers.

Is Asbestos Killing You?

Asbestos is mined as a dense rock, which easily separates into fine fibers. Asbestos fibers are especially favored as building blocks for various materials because of its strength, temperature resistance and chemical inertness.

Undoubtedly, asbestos has provided mankind with so many uses. However, asbestos comes with accompanying health hazards. Studies show that about 1.3 million people are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. These include people who are working in the construction industry and those in the manufacture of products made of asbestos. Workers in the construction industry are especially exposed to the hazards of asbestos during building demolition and or renovation wherein asbestos products are removed from the site.

Although most of us may have been exposed to asbestos one time or another, illness caused by asbestos exposure is only evident to those people who are regularly exposed to this mineral. Since asbestos fibers are extremely fine, they are easily suspended in the air. Since experts discovered the hazardous effects of asbestos exposure, its use has been regulated from that time on. The use of asbestos in products like imitation logs for gas-burning fireplaces and spackling compound has long been banned in the United States. Asbestos regulation is aimed towards the reduction of asbestos fiber inhalation by workers and other people.

Prolonged exposure to the fine asbestos fibers suspended in the air may result into a form of pneumoconiosis known as asbestosis. Stiff lungs with an excess of scar or fibrous tissue are often the characteristic sign of asbestosis. A person suffering from this disease may find it difficult to breath because of the stiffness in the lungs. Much effort is needed in order to expand the lungs during breathing. Abnormal sounds in the chest may be heard. In some cases, the membrane surrounding the lungs called the pleura may develop calcified plaques. Asbestosis patients will experience shortness in breathing accompanied with dry cough. They may also develop clubbed fingertips with bluish hands and feet due to a deficient supply of oxygen in the blood.

It will take at least 10 years of exposure to asbestos before asbestosis appears. Asbestosis however may worsen once present in the body even when there is no more exposure to the offending substance. It has been observed that construction workers, pipe fitters, shipbuilders and those working in brake lining factories have higher risk of developing asbestosis. Cancer of the lungs is also a possible consequence of a long-term asbestos inhalation. Additionally, cigarette-smoking asbestos workers are four times at greater risk of developing lung cancer than people who are not exposed to asbestos. A rare type of cancer called pleural mesothelioma is also linked to asbestos inhalation. Studies show that about 70% of pleural mesothelioma victims has a history of asbestos exposure.

No treatment has been found to be effective against asbestosis. In lung cancer associated with asbestosis, surgery can be the form of treatment although the general outcome is often poor.

Therefore, in order to prevent any asbestos related diseases, it is important to provide proper dust control in workplaces where asbestos is processed. Studies show that the incidence of lung cancer and other asbestos related illnesses can be significantly reduced through proper dust control and management.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Mesothelioma Cancer and Asbestos

Many people have never heard of mesothelioma cancer because it is rare. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 2,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. Compare that to 213,380 lung cancer cases the Institute predicts will be diagnosed in 2007.

Mesothelioma cancer begins in the tissue, called the mesothelieum, that surrounds the lungs, stomach, heart and other organs. The mesothelieum protects these organs with two levels of tissue and a fluid that allows the organs to move. It can be found in the area around any of these organs but is most commonly found in the chest and abdomen area.

Contact with asbestos is the main risk factor. Asbestos can be found in insulation in many buildings. Asbestos can also be found in floor tiles, roofing, dust and rocks.

Most of the use of asbestos in construction products was discontinued after 1989. But the cancer may not be diagnosed until 20 to 50 years after exposure because it takes a long time to develop.

That is why most cases of occur in people in their late 50s and older. According to the American Cancer Society, three-fourths of patients diagnosed are over 65.

Other factors that have been tied to this are:

* Radiation. A material called thorium dioxide that was used in x-rays was found to cause cancer. But this material has not been used for many years.
* Tobacco. Smoking has not been directly associated with this cancer but smoking and asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
* SV40 Virus. This virus was found in polio vaccines in the mid 50s and early 60s. Since symptoms do not develop for 20 to 50 years, it may be some time before it is known if this virus is a risk factor.

The symptoms vary from person to person based on where the affected tissue is located. The overall symptoms include:

* Shortness of breath
* Chest pain
* Abdominal pain
* Abdominal swelling
* Fever
* Anemia

The treatments vary depending on the patient. Many patients have surgery to remove the lining and tissue that is affected. In severe cases, tissue surrounding the chest, a lung or part of the diaphragm may be removed.

Doctors may recommend that some patients have radiation therapy where high energy rays shrink tumors and kill the affected cells.

Another common treatment, chemotherapy, may be recommended but has not been successful in treating patients with mesothelioma. According to the American Cancer Society, anti-angiogenesis drugs which kill these cells by stopping their blood supply are being considered.

The prognosis for patients is grim because the disease is often advanced by the time it is diagnosed. According to the American Cancer Society, the five year survival rate is about 10 percent. Most patients only survive for a year after diagnosis. New treatments and clinical studies are being conducted to improve the survival rate of patients with mesothelioma cancer.

For more information on cancer try visiting http://www.cancercondition.com - a website that specializes in providing cancer related information and resources including information on mesothelioma cancer.

Asbestos Encasement

The dangers of asbestos have been known for a very long time and even the companies that made billions off of asbestos products have long since given up defending the virtues of asbestos. Unfortunately, there were way too many years between identifying the dangers of asbestos and getting asbestos pulled off the market but finally new asbestos products have been almost universally banned.

The biggest problem with asbestos today is dealing with the past. People still suffer from mesothelioma and other respiratory problems caused by asbestos. Perhaps an even bigger problem is how to deal with the asbestos that is still out there in older buildings, concrete and insulation. For more than half of the 20th century asbestos was used just about anywhere that required insulation. It was just about everywhere out there - and still is.

Of course the public outcry against asbestos called for the immediate removal of all asbestos anywhere people were exposed to the hazard. However, this is often easier said than done. In all too many cases the biggest expense involved in renovating an older building is dealing with asbestos. Often the expense of totally removing asbestos has prevented renovation of older buildings. Demolishing or renovating old buildings used to be easy but not anymore.

For many years asbestos removal was at a stand still. Those companies that could afford to remove asbestos insulation in their buildings had already done so; often at great expense. Those companies with smaller financial resources usually just left their old buildings alone and delayed dealing with the asbestos. Finally in the 1990s governments started to approve alternate ways of dealing with asbestos in buildings.

Currently there are 3 approved ways of dealing with asbestos in older buildings. Removal is still the preferred way, but is very expensive and not entirely without dangers. Simply getting the asbestos out exposes it to people. The trick and expense in asbestos removal is keeping it out of the air and away from people. An additional problem with asbestos removal is you have to install new insulation and fireproofing, usually fiberglass, to replace the asbestos you are removing.

A second way of dealing with asbestos is called encapsulation. This involves actually building a structure around the asbestos so that it is totally contained. In some cases this is a viable option but usually it is almost as expensive as removal. Many buildings cannot handle the extra weight of the encapsulation structure.

The third way of dealing with asbestos is called encasement. With this procedure a special 2-part coating is sprayed over the asbestos totally preventing exposure to the fibers. The first coat is a primer that binds with the asbestos fibers, holds them in place and also prepares the surface for the second coat. The second coat is the sealer that does just that, totally sealing off the asbestos.

Independent testing of encasement has shown that the final surface is completely safe. There are no airborne fibers or other volatile substances coming off the surface. It is totally harmless. In the field, encasement has proven to be more than 50 percent less expensive compared to removal and can be done in half the time and with much less labor expense. The big drawback with encasement is the asbestos is still there but as long as the building isn't changed or demolished the encasement coating renders the asbestos totally harmless.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer Primary Cause

50 years ago asbestos was hailed by many as a miracle product, they said nearly anything could be made from this mineral. It is used as additive to reinforce mortar and plastics. Asbestos fibers can also be separated into fine threads that do not conduct electricity and are unaffected by heat or chemicals.

In the 1970's, following the discoveries of the health dangers of asbestos dust inhalation, the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission prohibited the use of asbestos in several products that could liberate asbestos fibers into the environment during use.

Asbestos can cause dangerous diseases that call Mesothelioma cancer. These fibers lodge themselves in the lining of the lung and infected mesothelium tissue. Asbestos can trigger tumors growth between 30 to 40 years after they are inhaled.

When asbestos fibers enter the body, by either breathing in the tiny asbestos fibers or by swallowing them, they can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancer. Asbestos may also cause coughing, lung damage, and shortness of breath in the short period for inhaled this.

According to one survey, one out of seven general public who came into contact with asbestos may develop any of the poles a part types of asbestos-related cancer, including mesothelioma.

Today it is understood that anyone working with or near asbestos has an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, so there are strictly controlled limits of exposure in the work place. But since the dormancy period of mesothelioma can often be 30 or 40 years, there are millions of workers who are at risk because of their exposure in the decades before the safety controls were put in place.

Dwi Madik is a Webmaster of Mesothelioma Cancer Information site. That brings you Free Mesothelioma Cancer Articles for you who wants to discover all information about this disease.

Asbestos and Government Coverups

The health risks associated with asbestos exposure have been known since the turn of the 20th Century. Dr H. Montague Murray of London, found asbestos fibers in a deceased 33 yr-old asbestos worker in 1900. In 1917, Dr. Henry K. Pancoast of the University of Pennsylvania medical school, found lung scarring in five asbestos-factory workers. Only one year later, an insurance statistician reported that due to the assumed health risks, insurers commonly denied coverage to asbestos...

The health risks associated with asbestos exposure have been known since the turn of the 20th Century. Dr H. Montague Murray of London, found asbestos fibers in a deceased 33 yr-old asbestos worker in 1900. In 1917, Dr. Henry K. Pancoast of the University of Pennsylvania medical school, found lung scarring in five asbestos-factory workers. Only one year later, an insurance statistician reported that due to the assumed health risks, insurers commonly denied coverage to asbestos workers. By the 1930?s, the asbestos manufacturers and their insurance companies knew that the asbestos would kill. In 1934, Aetna insurance company published a textbook in which they devoted a full chapter to asbestos, saying that asbestosis was ?incurable and usually results in total permanent disability followed by death.? (Bowker, pg.18)So now armed with this knowledge, by the time World War II started, the risks of asbestos had been recognized and the industry was starting to slide into decline. The war changed all that. The asbestos industry exploded with the massive production to place asbestos in ships. All prior safety knowledge was promptly forgotten and the asbestos industry boomed again.

There is an ?embarrassing? number of documents that surfaced during the many court cases over the years. These prove the asbestos corporations were well aware of the dangers of asbestos and willfully withheld this information from their employees. Scans of the following documents are available to be read on the Asbestos-Think Again website. Excerpts of these documents show:

In a 1949 document, Exxon admitted that asbestos causes lung cancer, silicosis, fibrosis, and erythema.

In a 1958 National Gypsum Memo ? ?We know that you will never lose sight of the fact that perhaps the greatest hazard in your plant is with men handling asbestos. Because just as certain as death and taxes is the fact that if you inhale asbestos dust you get asbestosis.?

A 1969 Travelers Insurance Co. memo states: ?confidentially Johns-Manville has been contaminating the ?hell? out of both the air and the water for quite some time.

?In 1975, an insurance industry memo summarized non-workplace exposure. Forty percent of homemakers and 50% of blue-collar workers had identifiable asbestos fibers in their lungs at death. The author states, ?It is now found (that) the public in general has been exposed to asbestos products to a far greater degree than previously recognized.?

There was no perceptible change in the outlook of companies until the landmark asbestos lawsuit filed in 1969, Borel vs Fibreboard Products Corporation, which was decided in favor of the plaintiff. It was the first time the country recognized a company?s duty to warn their employees about the dangers of asbestos. There were more than 16,000 asbestos/mesothelioma cases filed in the next 10 years.

Marc has been writing about mesothelioma and asbestos related topics for 12 years. His work is published all over the internet.

Asbestos Lung Disease - Mesothelioma and Asbestosis - Causes and Symptoms

A rare form of cancer, mesothelioma occurs when cancerous cells are discovered in the mesothelium, the protective sac that surrounds most of the body's internal organs. These malignant cells divide and reproduce without control, spreading to and damaging nearby tissues and organs. Mesothelioma cancer cells can also metastasize, or spread from their original starting point, to infect other parts of the body. While most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum (in the internal lining of the chest or abdominal areas), mesothelioma can begin elsewhere in the body as well.

Mesothelioma is discovered more commonly in men than in women, though it can appear in both sexes. One of the main risk factors for this form of cancer is its victims having worked with asbestos. Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure seem to go hand-in-hand, with history of exposure is present in roughly 70-80% of all reported cases of Mesothelioma. Unfortunately, asbestos was widely used in a variety of industrial products, ranging from cement to insulation. Its tiny particles float in the air and are easily inhaled or ingested, especially during the manufacturing process. Mesothelioma is just one of many serious ailments that can result from asbestos exposure, and just one of many kinds of cancers that can occur when one is exposed to asbestos for an extended period of time.

Symptoms of mesothelioma vary, but they typically do not appear until roughly 30-50 years after the victims were exposed to the asbestos. Those suffering from this form of cancer often experience shortness of breath, pain in the chest, weight loss, abdominal pain and/or swelling, blood clotting abnormalities, blockages in the bowel, anemia and fever. Symptoms may vary, depending on whether or not the mesothelioma has spread to other parts of the body, but other signs may include difficulty swallowing, pain, or swelling around the face and/or neck.

Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often difficult to diagnose. Many of its symptoms are similar to a vast array of other conditions. Because of this, one of the best ways to diagnose mesothelioma is by reviewing the patient's medical history and inquiring about any history of asbestos exposure. In addition to this, the doctor may perform a complete physical examination and take x-rays of the abdomen and chest, as well as performing lung function tests. Mesothelioma testing sometimes calls for CAT scans or MRI's, taking detailed pictures of different areas within the body. These images are then viewed on a large series of monitors and can be printed out, if needed.

The only true way to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma is to perform a biopsy, where a surgeon or oncologist removes a small sample of tissue, allowing them to then view it under a microscope and look for cancer cells. If a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, treatment will then be discussed, dependant on where the cancer is located and at what stage the mesothelioma is at. Some common treatment options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. In some cases, these different forms of treatment may be combined in order to actively combat the cancer.

Gust A. Lenglet has been an accountant and financial advisor for many years. He is President and CEO of HBS Financial Group, Ltd. and offers online tax filing through his many web sites. He is also an accomplished author in the tax, legal, and education fields.

A Quick Guide to Asbestos and Health Issues

Unless you have been completely out of touch, you have probably heard all the hubbub about the dangers of asbestos. So, what is the big deal?

A Quick Guide to Asbestos and Health Issues

Asbestos is a fibrous material that is highly resistant to burning. It has a long history. While it was first used on a large scale commercial basis at the turn of the twentieth century, it has actually been around much longer. In fact, the ancient Egyptians were known for using it burial clothes.

Common modern applications used to include building materials, products and automobile brake pads, which all required a fire resistant element. Asbestos is still used today, but on a fairly small scope. The reason has everything to do with health. Asbestos in and of itself is not harmful to people. What is harmful, however, is asbestos dust.

Asbestos dust is a vicious thing. Due to the chemical makeup of the material, the dust is like a cloud of fine glass particles. While they will not damage your skin, they do great damage to the lungs. Making matters worse, asbestos dust is so fine that it is easily raised from asbestos material like ceiling tiles and walls. Once in the air, it is all but invisible. Prolonged exposure, such as when working on or in a building with asbestos materials, can result in massive amounts of the toxic dust entering the lungs.

Once asbestos dust is in your lungs, you cannot expel it by coughing. That doesn't mean the body does not try. Asbestosis is scarring of the lungs from acid created by the body in an effort to get the asbestos dust out. If this process is allowed to occur for 10 to 20 years, the lungs may stop functioning because of excess scarring. If that sounds bad, it only gets worse. Asbestos dust can lead to terminal cancer in the form of mesothelioma. [What is Mesothelioma?]

Asbestos is an excellent fire resistant material that saves us from burning while killing us in a much slower manner. Since 1989, it has been banned in the United States in all but a few commercial areas.

Gerard Simington is with FindAnAttorneyForMe.com - offering asbestos and mesothelioma legal information.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma - Asbestos Lung Cancer & Side Effects

When a group of cells mutates uncontrollably and starts invading and killing healthy cells, this is called cancer. In certain areas of the body where cells reproduce rapidly there tends to be a greater chance of risk because one cancer cell can multiply exponentially in a very quick period of time. Most cancers are caused by external stimuli and mesothelioma is no different. Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos.

Mesothelioma is an extremely nasty and permanent cancer that infects the membrane surrounding most internal organs. It is also a very subtle form of cancer providing only a few noticeable symptoms until it becomes extremely advanced. The most common type of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. It causes shortness of breath and/or chronic coughing that can easily be mixed up with allergies or a common cold. In many cases mesothelioma is discovered by accident when patients are looking into these symptoms. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

Pleural mesothelioma represents 75% of mesothelioma cases - but it is far from the only type of this deadly cancer. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining around the stomach and intestines, and is just as dangerous and deadly. Common symptoms include:
? Weight loss - but waist may increase in size.
? Pain or swelling in the abdomen - fluid retention or tumor growth.
? Bowel obstruction - blockage in the small or large intestine.
? Anemia - a reduction in the number of red blood cells to below normal; this forces the heart and other organs to work harder to get oxygen where it's needed.
? Fever
Usually, the first test run by a doctor will use a device called a thorascope. The procedure is called thorascopy and is done by creating a small incision in the chest, and taking a sample of lung tissue to see if it?s cancerous or not. This procedure is performed at a hospital using local anesthesia and will cause a small amount of pain. There will also be a check for an excess amount of fluid which may be drained to ease the pressure and reduce pain.

If these tests are inconclusive, there will be more advanced test performed such as a Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) scan to give doctors a 3D X-ray of the tissues. This will allow the doctors to analyze the potentially damaged areas. Another option is an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging scan). An MRI will take cross-section pictures of internal structures to separate healthy tissues from malignant ones. These two scans will allow doctors to be able and see potential dangers long before the patient feels any symptoms.

To learn more about asbestos related diseases, drug therapy for mesothelioma or gene therapy for mesothelioma, please visit our website. This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.

The History and Link between Asbestos and Mesothelioma

If you have Mesothelioma, you are invariably a victim of asbestos, a material whose danger was known as early as the 1930s. The incidence of mesothelioma showed up even in those who had no occupational exposure, but lived close to a facility, which processes asbestos. This reports soon followed many reports of mesothelioma associated with asbestos exposure from various parts of the world. A few of these patients who developed mesothelioma had occupational exposure to asbestos, at pattern had developed.

It is also to be noted that less than 10% of people who had exposure to asbestos develop mesothelioma. In his report, Dr. Baris had identified 185 cases of erionite/zeolite-related mesothelioma in two areas of Turkey with no local asbestos deposits or industry. Recent reports suggest that a history of asbestos exposure can be obtained only in about 80% cases of mesothelioma. It is clear from these observations and studies that malignant mesothelioma is not uniquely related to asbestos exposure.

Other reports followed linking asbestos to malignant mesothelioma amongst pipe fitters in the USA; other reports followed from around the world. The history of asbestos exposure can be the cause of mesothelioma or asbestosis development. And it was not until 1960 that a link between asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma was documented. Once the asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may cause significant health problems including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Most people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos (fibers). Since then, the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world. This site only provides information about mesothelioma and asbestos, it is not meant to be taken as legal advice.

GET LEGAL HELP REGARDING Asbestos Mesothelioma

Rich C. Perlman For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.legal-help-advice.com

Asbestos - Don't Die Of Fright!

Asbestos generates a lot of fear, much of it, although genuine and understandable, is unwarranted. On the other hand, some people ignore the risks problem. Much is said and written about asbestos - here are the facts.

Asbestos can kill, but only in the right (!) circumstances

Asbestos is a very hazardous material, but it is only risk to health when the asbestos fibres become airborne, are inhaled and are deposited in your lungs. So, asbestos materials that are undamaged and undisturbed are not a risk.

If the fibres do get into the atmosphere in significant quantities they are a serious health risk. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to serious diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen) and asbestosis (a chronic fibrosis of the lungs). In the past, several industries generated high levels of asbestos fibre in the air. As a result, there are many cases of disease, and many deaths ? at least 3500 deaths a year in the UK at present.

Because asbestos was used so widely in buildings, there are groups of people who may still be exposed to fibres ? but usually at lower concentrations than the older industries. These groups include tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians, and other building and maintenance workers. They are exposed to asbestos when they accidentally disturb asbestos fibres during their normal work.

Diseases caused by asbestos

Cancers

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the chest and abdominal lining. Almost all cases are caused by asbestos. It is always fatal. Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop, from the time of first exposure to development of the disease (known as its latency period): between 15 and 60 years. Exposure to high levels for long periods is not necessary, but the risk increases with higher and longer exposures. It is caused by the brown and blue asbestos, but not by white asbestos.

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer caused by asbestos is identical to that caused by smoking. People who smoke and are exposed to asbestos run an even higher risk. The latency period is usually at least 20 years. It can be caused by any asbestos fibre, but the risk is higher from brown and blue asbestos.

Other lung diseases

Asbestosis is a disease which causes scarring of the lung tissue - fibrosis. The tissue becomes leathery and less flexible. The lungs? is less able to absorb oxygen from the air and pass it into the blood. Breathing becomes more difficult and the disease progresses over the years. It is sometimes quoted as an underlying cause of death when a sufferer dies. Latency period is about 15 to 30 years.

Pleural plaques or diffuse pleural thickening is a scarring of the chest lining. It can be seen on X-rays but does not cause noticeable symptoms. There is no know connection between pleural plaques and other asbestos diseases, but it is used as a marker of asbestos exposure.

Click the link for the full articleNiall Evans is a health and safety professional in the UK. http://www.clickforhealthandsafety.com/Asbestos-Dont-Die-Of-Fright.html