Please also visit the National Mesothelioma Legal Center

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure, nearly 99% mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma causes cancer to develop in the cells that in the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs (pleura), or around the abdominal organs (peritoneum). Malignant mesothelioma is a serious disease caused by asbestos. See Mesothelioma Diagnosis >>

What are the causes of Mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. The cancer has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. In other words there is a wide gap between initial exposure and development of the disease. The average development time is between 35 and 40 years. In rare cases the cancer has appeared in less than 20 years.

How much exposure to asbestos causes Mesothelioma?

The likelihood of getting Mesothelioma increases the longer and more intense the exposure to asbestos. However, in many cases mesothelioma appears in people with very little exposure or even simple household exposure. Some people have been diagnosed with mesothelioma 30 or 40 years after having brief exposure such as a summer construction job. There is a high incidence of people being diagnosed with mesothelioma who were exposed unknowingly in the Navy many years ago.

What materials contain Asbestos?

Most insulation materials before the mid-1970s contained asbestos.
Many other construction materials also contained asbestos.

Insulation on pipes
Fireproofing spray insulation
Boiler insulation
Insulating cements, plasters, and joint compounds that came in powder form and created a lot of dust before being completely mixed with water.
Fire brick and gunnite used for internal insulation of furnaces, boilers, and other vessels
Roof, floor, and ceiling tiles.
Transite Siding
Brakes and Clutches

What types of occupations were exposed to Asbestos?

The following types of jobs involved asbestos:

Insulators who actually installed asbestos insulation
Shipyard workers and Navy personnel
Boilermakers who constructed boilers which were often several stories high and filled with insulation
Plumbers, pipe fitters, and steam fitters especially those who worked on ships
Plasterers working with with fireproofing spray on steel beams
Electricians, mechanics, bricklayers; millwrights; carpenters; and other building trades workers
Steel workers; refinery and other industrial workers;
Maintenance workers; laborers; many industries.

Where was Asbestos used?

Industrial sites had heaviest asbestos use and exposure.
Most often shipyards, power plants, paper mills, refineries,manufacturing plants, foundries, and construction sites.
Public and private schools.

What should someone with Mesothelioma do?

From a legal standpoint the disease is always caused by negligence. You should consult with a law firm that is experienced in handling Mesothelioma cases to insure that you are compensated for you injuries.

See also Mesothelioma Asbestos Law Center >>

Contact a lawyer using our Mesothelioma case submission sheet.
Your case will be reviewed by lawyers handling Mesothelioma matters.



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