Asbestos is a toxic, naturally occurring mineral that was found in products such as insulation, brake pads, and floor and ceiling tiles through the early 1980s, when it was determined to cause many life-threatening asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. According to research studies, when asbestos fibers are inhaled, they get trapped in the lungs, causing scar tissue buildup and lesions that lead to breathing disorders, disease, and sometimes death.

In recent years, there has been an alarming increase in the number of cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos exposure-related diseases, primarily because the ailments takes years to surface, sometimes occurring as long as four decades after exposure. That puts the thousands of construction workers, drywallers, shipbuilders, floor-covering installers, automobile repair workers, cementers, oil refinery workers, and other laborers who worked with asbestos during its heyday-between 1940 and 1980-at serious risk for mesothelioma, asbestosis, and/or lung cancer in the near future.

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer brought on by exposure to asbestos. When inhaled, asbestos fibers become embedded in the lungs or abdominal region, leaving behind scarring and lesions. These lesions and scars eventually develop into full-blown mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer for which there is no cure.

Asbestosis, also called pulmonary fibrosis and idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis, is a noncancerous lung disease caused by asbestos exposure. The disease develops when asbestos fibers become lodged in the lungs, causing inflammation and triggering the development of scar tissue. This scar tissue stiffens the lungs, making it difficult for air to flow in and out of them and, ultimately, inhibiting breathing and causing a serious cough.

It takes as long as a decade after the exposure to asbestos for asbestosis to occur. It is often misdiagnosed as lung cancer or other diseases. If you have been diagnosed with asbestosis, you may be at increased risk for other respiratory problems and are advised to avoid further asbestos exposure and to stop smoking.

Research has shown that both smoking and asbestos exposure increases your chances of developing lung cancer. If you believe you may be at risk, it is imperative that you first seek medical attention. You may be entitled to compensation for damages if you are a victim of asbestosis, mesothelioma, or asbestos exposure-related lung cancer.

If you or a loved one is a victim of asbestosis, mesothelioma, or asbestos exposure-related lung cancer, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified Civil Justice Attorney.