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Asbestos Wick - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

Due to its excellent insulating capability, fire-resistance and durability, asbestos was widely used in the construction industry for most of the twentieth century. While the physical properties of asbestos made it ideal for construction purposes, it was known to be highly dangerous as early as the 1930s. However, restrictions on the use of asbestos were not in place in America until the 1970s, exposing many thousands of workers to this potentially deadly substance.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause several deadly diseases, including lung cancer, a lung and respiratory disease called asbestosis, and a rare type of cancer called mesothelioma. These diseases have very long latency periods, meaning that several decades may elapse between exposure to asbestos and the development of disease symptoms. In addition, mesothelioma has highly non-specific symptoms, making accurate diagnosis extremely difficult. Mesothelioma typically affects the lining of the lungs and there is currently no cure for this type of cancer. The only cause of both asbestosis and mesothelioma is the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Asbestos wick was most commonly used as packing to provide insulation for pipes and pipe systems, and around boilers and furnaces. This substance typically contained between 10% and 20% asbestos. Asbestos wick was also used in the manufacture of asbestos robe and other textile products. Anyone who worked in manufacturing industries that produced asbestos wick or related products, or who was involved in the construction industry in or before the 1970s may potentially have been exposed to asbestos.

One of the greatest tragedies of the health hazards that these workers faced was that the diseases they eventually developed - such as mesothelioma and asbestos - were almost entirely avoidable. Despite the fact that asbestos was known to be a deadly substance early in the twentieth century, restrictions on its use were not put in place until four decades later, when the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the production of asbestos-containing construction materials in 1977. In addition, most companies that used asbestos in manufacturing simply ignored the risks that this substance posed to their workers, placing them in great danger of repeated long-term asbestos exposure.

Many thousands of people who worked with asbestos on a daily basis were not supplied with the safety equipment that would have prevented asbestos exposure and the subsequent development of mesothelioma or asbestosis. Over the past two decades, as increasing numbers of such workers have developed these diseases, the companies responsible for this tragedy have been held accountable for their negligence. Many people have pursued lawsuits and have obtained financial compensation for the suffering these asbestos-related diseases inflict.

If you have developed mesothelioma or asbestosis, it's important to know that you have the same right to take legal action. Don't delay in contacting an experienced mesothelioma lawyer, who can explain your legal rights, help you determine the circumstances of your exposure to asbestos, and help you ensure that the company responsible for this is held accountable. It's important to contact a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after your diagnosis. Obtaining financial compensation can pay for the costs of medical treatment and care, replace lost income, provide your family with some financial security, and provide you with some peace of mind in knowing that you have obtained some justice.

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