Asbestos Questions Article

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Asbestos Questions

There are many questions that are still unanswered about asbestos and mesothelioma. Luckily, science has been able to answer a great many, allowing the public to arm themselves with knowledge about this dangerous mineral.

Author: Sara Goldstein

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What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been mined for over 100 years. It was prized due to its natural heat resistance, making it useful as a flame retardant and insulation. Unfortunately, its use comes with a potentially deadly consequence: mesothelioma cancer.

Why is asbestos bad?
Asbestos exposure is currently the only known cause of mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers become airborne, they are breathed in and can become lodged in the mesothelium. The more fibers that are inhaled, the less likely the body is going to be able to dispose of them all. Those that stick around can cause mesothelioma, a deadly cancer with no cure and a long latency period.

What diseases does asbestos cause?
Mesothelioma is the disease linked with asbestos that receives the most press time. Asbestos can also cause pleural thickening, pleural plaques, or pleural calcification. Scarring of the lung tissue can also occur, called asbestosis. Asbestosis is irreversible and causes serious breathing problems.

Why wasn’t asbestos banned a long time ago?
The first restrictions regarding the use of asbestos were put in place in the 1970s, though it was still commonly used in manufacturing throughout the 1980s. The United States has not yet banned all uses of asbestos like many other developed countries have already done. Many of the individuals being diagnosed with asbestos related diseases now were exposed long before any restrictions were in place.

What can I do if I was exposed to asbestos?
The first thing to do is to contact your doctor. Your doctor can diagnose you with any asbestos related diseases and let you know what symptoms to look out for. Contacting an asbestos lawyer is important, too, as you may have been negligently exposed to asbestos. If this is the case, you may be eligible for compensation.

About Author

The mesothelioma lawyers of Parker, Dumler, & Kiely LLP help clients in the Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. areas who have suffered from the effects of asbestos.

To learn more about asbestos litigation, please visit the website of The Law Office of Matthew Kiely LLP today to contact an experienced Maryland asbestos lawyer.

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