Find Asbestos Attorney By Laura Evans
Asbestos has been around longer than you might think. Since the early 1800s, asbestos has been used for its insulation properties. Asbestos is not a man-made creation. In fact, there are six types of asbestos minerals, all of which are made up of fibers. When asbestos minerals are used commercially, they are crushed so that the fibers separate. The fibers are then mixed with other materials, such as concrete or sheeting, depending on the application.
Types of Asbestos Asbestos
The three most commonly used asbestos are chrystoline, amosite, and crocidite. Each type of asbestos has different features. Chrystoline, the most commonly used asbestos, forms fine, smooth fibers when crushed; these fibers, thought to be the least dangerous type of asbestos, are layered rather than the chain-like construction of the other asbestos. Amosite fibers are brittle and straight, while crocidolite asbestos fibers, the least commonly used asbestos, are characterized as straight.
Problems With Asbestos
The problem with asbestos is that that, when asbestos fibers become airborne, they can travel a good distance and are easy to inhale. When asbestos is inhaled, the fibers can get caught in the lungs, causing scar tissue. If exposed repeatedly, this can eventually reduce the amount of oxygen that the lungs can absorb.
Asbestos causes asbestosis, a condition that results in shortness of breath. Asbestosis can lead to other types of lung cancers. There is no cure for asbestosis. The shortness of breath is treated with oxygen treatments and treatment to remove or thin out the liquids in the lungs.
Mesothelioma and Other Diseases
Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancers including mesothelioma, a cancer that is relatively rare. It can take up to 30 to 50 years for symptoms of mesothelioma to appear and, because the symptoms of this cancer are similar to other medical conditions, mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose. Knowing that a patient has a history of exposure to asbestos can help diagnose the cancer.
People who have asbestos-related diseases may have legal recourse. There are laws in effect today that allow those who have contracted asbestos-related illnesses, or in some cases, their survivors, to received compensation for medical expenses and suffering. If you are suffering from an asbestos related illness, it is very important to contact an asbestos attorney. An asbestos attorney will know about any new state and national legislation that affects asbestos litigation, as the law changes to reflect the understanding of the long gestation period of asbestos-related illnesses. Even though an asbestos attorney will not be able to cure your condition, your asbestos attorney may be able to help you get some compensation to help make your life a little easier.
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