Asbestos-related illness has been a problem for decades in the United States, though with strong restrictions on use of the substance, many expected the related illnesses to disappear over time. According to CNN, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expressed surprise at a recent study that shows young people continue to experience illnesses regardless of the effort to reduce exposure to the toxic substance. The CDC released a report attributing about 2,500 deaths to malignant mesothelioma in 2015. This number has increased by roughly one hundred since 1999, primary affecting those over 85 years of age, but with increases to the numbers of young people affected as well.
Asbestos was widely used before its adverse health effects were known, due to its flame-resistant properties and low cost of production. Extensive studies have found a link between exposure to asbestos, which can break up into tiny particles and be inhaled into the lungs, and an increased risk of gastrointestinal and colon cancer. Asbestos has also been shown to increase the risk of esophagus, throat, gallbladder, and kidney cancers. Mesothelioma is caused when the fibers build up in tissue linings in the heart and lungs. Special equipment and extra training in addition to medical monitoring can help prevent the disease before it has a chance to affect anyone.
After having been banned for almost four decades, asbestos is still shown to affect young people. Recent studies conducted by the CDC have attempted to determine where people are being exposed to the substance. A representative of the CDC stated that the problem with asbestos is that determining where one could be exposed is still difficult, and this has led to the continuation of asbestos-related diseases. Health officials advise anyone working in an area that may be affected by asbestos to take the proper precautions and use protective gear.
One of the difficulties mesothelioma poses is that the disease is so rare, which makes screening for it difficult. In addition to its rarity, mesothelioma has an incubation period of 20 – 50 years between exposure and developing the illness. Genetic predisposition can also increase risk of developing an illness at a lower level of exposure. Anyone with a family member who developed mesothelioma should consider getting screened, as well as anyone who has lived in an area where people are known to have been exposed. However, even detecting the disease early may not provide much help, and the best way to deal with the illness is to avoid it in the first place.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related disease, it is important to have qualified representation in order to secure compensation. Our team of Philadelphia asbestos lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler are dedicated to providing individualized representation for clients throughout the Philadelphia area. Call 800-369-0899 or contact us online today to arrange a free consultation.