| Asbestos has been used since the times of the | | | | * labored breath; |
| Ancient Greeks, but its dangers are a | | | | |
| modern-day issue. Asbestos was used often in | | | | * weight loss. |
| the nineteenth and twentieth centuries | | | | |
| because of its high tolerance to heat and its | | | | Pleural, peritoneal and pericardial |
| usefulness in fireproof insulation. However, | | | | mesothelioma are all possible variations of |
| recently it has been exposed that when | | | | the deadly cancer, with pleural (lung) |
| inhaled, asbestos causes deadly lung | | | | mesothelioma the most commonly manifested |
| conditions such as mesothelioma. | | | | version of the disease. |
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| Occupational Exposure and Dangers To Workers | | | | High-Risk Professions |
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| After noticing that chronic diseases, | | | | Though the use of asbestos is now regulated |
| especially cancers of the lung such as | | | | by laws and regulations, the disease's long |
| mesothelioma, were extremely common in | | | | dormancy period means that it still has a |
| construction workers who were exposed to | | | | high number of potential victims. Professions |
| asbestos, doctors began making a connection | | | | at a high risk for asbestos exposure and |
| between asbestos and mesothelioma. | | | | mesothelioma are those which involved |
| Unfortunately, construction and other workers | | | | repeated exposure to asbestos in its |
| who were exposed to asbestos from the 1950s | | | | industrial forms. These professions include: |
| through the 1970s, when the dangers of | | | | |
| asbestos were more fully recognized, are | | | | * electricians; |
| still suffering from the ill effects of | | | | |
| asbestos exposure at work. There are now laws | | | | * painters; |
| and regulations in place that are designed to | | | | |
| prevent workers from exposure to toxic | | | | * insulators; |
| asbestos; however, these laws cannot undo | | | | |
| years upon years of exposure to this deadly | | | | * carpenters; |
| mineral in the workplace. | | | | |
| | | | * bricklayers; |
| Delayed Diagnosis Due To Long Dormancy Period | | | | |
| | | | * construction workers; |
| Workers may have been exposed to asbestos in | | | | |
| the 1970s, but may only just now be | | | | * mechanics; |
| developing the tell-tale symptoms of | | | | |
| mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is slow to appear | | | | * other tradespeople, in particulal, people |
| which causes doctors to have a hard time | | | | who worked in home or commercial construction |
| diagnosing and treating patients with the | | | | prior to the 1970s. |
| disease in time. Because symptoms of | | | | |
| mesothelioma don't show up for many years | | | | Other people at risk for getting mesothelioma |
| after exposure and are similar to symptoms | | | | are the families of people who worked with |
| for other diseases, workers with mesothelioma | | | | asbestos because the dust may have settled in |
| might be misdiagnosed during the early stages | | | | the employee's hair or clothing. |
| of the disease. | | | | |
| | | | Legal Options |
| Symptoms of mesothelioma include: | | | | |
| | | | Because of the huge number of potentially |
| * shortness of breath; | | | | affected workers, there has been a |
| | | | significant amount of litigation against |
| * abdominal swelling; | | | | companies who irresponsibly used asbestos, |
| | | | exposing their workers to the threat of |
| * pain of the abdomen; | | | | mesothelioma and other life-threatening |
| | | | asbestos-related illnesses. It is essential |
| * blood clotting problems; | | | | to consult your doctor to discuss a treatment |
| | | | plan if you are suffering from exposure to |
| * chest pain; | | | | asbestos. Then contact an asbestos attorney |
| | | | who is experienced in mesothelioma |
| * chronic cough; | | | | litigation. A competent asbestos lawyer may |
| | | | be able to help you recover damages for the |
| * heart palpitations; | | | | pain and suffering incurred through asbestos |
| | | | exposure and mesothelioma, defray the costs |
| * fever; | | | | of treatment, and provide for your children |
| | | | if you die of the disease. |