Asbestos is a natural fibrous material that was widely used in various industries and building materials because of its stability and heat resistant properties. However, asbestos is really a killer. It is a deadly contaminant and responsible for serious diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma cancers, and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma: A Deadly Cancer
The disease has cost many lives and left many more fighting with failing health. The common symptoms related to the disease are breathlessness, dry cough, and pain in the respiratory tracts followed by vomiting. The prime cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the lungs and the abdominal cavities.
Most of the diseases are caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers that could settle in the internal body organs and cause serious diseases. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can lie dormant in the body for decades before diagnosis. The worst part is that after diagnosis the patient has hardly any time left for fighting these diseases.
Asbestos has extensively been mined in South Africa and exported to UK & US factories for reprocessing. For many years, the industrialists enjoyed the benefits of asbestos as a cheap substitute to wood in building material industry and an integral part of brake lining material used extensively in vehicles during the World Wars. Asbestos was also widely used as an insulation material in the buildings and industries in the US and Europe.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer linked to exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma targets the protective membranes of the lungs, heart, and stomach and is treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The victims of mesothelioma can file lawsuits for seeking compensation against the companies responsible for asbestos exposure. Dozens of companies who made an exit from the business decades ago are still fighting the huge compensation bills pending against them for causing a major biological hazard. The courts have ordered huge amounts as compensation in most of the mesothelioma lawsuits. If you found this article useful, please share it with friends and colleagues. And, send them to our website.
The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance reports that 80% of homes built before 1980 have asbestos. If asbestos is found, the most important thing to do is leave it alone. Disposal should only be done by professionals who do asbestos abatement (removal.) The danger to humans occurs when the fibers are broken up, releasing particles into the air. These fibers irritate the sensitive tissue lining internal organs, leading to scarring and tumors.
They can seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, lost earning capacity, pain, and sufferings. The family members and relatives of the people who die because of mesothelioma cancers can also file lawsuits for compensation to recover the loss of consortium care. Mesothelioma: really a killer