Medical Problems Attributed to Asbestos Exposure

Prolonged inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers has been shown to cause Lung Cancer (and sometimes gastrointestinal cancer), Mesothelioma, and Asbestosis. The longer and more intense the exposure, the larger the likelihood of contracting one of these diseases. However, the onset for these ailments is typically 10 years or more after first exposure.

There has NOT been any evidence of asbestos exposure causing fevers, headache, muscle soreness, or vomiting immediately after exposure (in spite of the misinformation that flies around).

Lung Cancer: this risk of contracting lung cancer is much MUCH higher if you smoke, though some cases of asbestos-linked lung cancer have been found in non-smokers. The latest reports estimate that people who smoke and are exposed to asbestos are 50-90 times more likely to contract lung cancer than a person who does not smoke and was not exposed to asbestos fibers.

Mesothelioma: a cancer that appears to ONLY be caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lung cavity/lining (pleura) and/or the abdominal wall lining (peritoneum).

Asbestosis: in this case, the asbestos actually causes the body to harm itself: the body produces an acid in response to asbestos fibers trapped in the lung in a futile attempt to destroy the foreign fibers. The acid has little or no effect on the fibers, which remain, but eventually causes scarring of the lungs themselves until the lungs cannot function. If you have symptoms, you should contact a physician and understand your legal options to help defray medical expenses.