Asbestos-Related Diseases Kill Nearly 40,000 People Per Year
Every year, over 3,000 new instances of mesothelioma are identified in the United States. While the majority of asbestos exposures happened prior to the 1980s, some asbestos exposure still occurs today. Asbestos is a kind of mineral fiber that may be found in both rocks and soil. Asbestos fibers are tiny, and may be easily separated when touched. Once inhaled, asbestos can become embedded in soft tissue in and around major organs causing lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis.
How are Americans Exposed to Asbestos?
Asbestos was widely used throughout the 20th century until the 1980s because of its robust, durable, insulation and fire-resistant properties. It was utilized in nearly every industrialized production activity, including ships, military installations, refineries, and power plants. It was also used in the construction of homes and buildings, as well as consumer items.
Some who were exposed to the carcinogen lived near big construction projects, spent time in public buildings, or lived in residences with asbestos-containing materials.
The King City Asbestos Company mine in central California, which closed in 2002, was the final asbestos extraction facility in the United States. The hazardous mineral can no longer be mined in the United States.
Asbestos-Caused Illnesses and Other Facts:
- Lung cancer, mesothelioma, colon cancer, throat cancer, and asbestosis can all be caused by exposure to asbestos
- According to the World Health Organization, asbestos-related illnesses, have a high mortality rate and do not respond well to medical therapy
- There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure
- Most asbestos-related illnesses are incurable
- The extended latency periods associated with these diseases means it will take decades to see a reduction in the number of asbestos-related deaths.
Inhaling even a little quantity of asbestos fiber can lead to fatal asbestos-related illnesses later in life. Asbestos-related diseases kill more than 39,000 people in the United States each year, according to the president of the International Commission of Occupational Health.
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, contact Goldberg, Persky & White P.C. immediately. We provide a free consultation to see whether you have a case.
