What types of illnesses are caused by asbestos exposure?
The most common asbestos diseases are malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. However, asbestos exposure can also cause cancers of the esophagus, larynx, oral cavity, stomach, colon, and rectum as well as a non-cancerous lung condition called pleural disease. What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive cancer in which malignant cancer cells are found in the sac that lines the chest, lungs, abdominal cavity or heart. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Because it has a long latency or “incubation” period (as long as 10 to 40 years), workers who were exposed to asbestos fibers before their dangers were publicized in the 1970s are still being diagnosed today. Between 2,500 and 4,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year. Did the asbestos industry know about the dangers of asbestos? Yesmanufacturers of asbestos-containing products knowingly exposed workers for decades. Many companies using asbestos-containing products kno
