Asbestos is a naturally occurring compound that is highly useful. It has been used extensively in industries for many purposes. Cement manufacturing units and ship building companies have been using it on a large scale. The use of asbestos increased since 1940s and many people were engaged in its extraction, processing and related activities. But the link between mesothelioma and asbestos was not found out till 1960s. Hence no precautionary measures were taken by the company owners and no restrictions were imposed by the government to protect the workers from inhaling or ingesting the harmful fibers floating in the air.
The workers were not aware of the dangers involved in asbestos and they kept on carrying asbestos particles in their cloths or hair. Thus family members were also exposed to the malicious particles as they went home without having a shower or changing cloths. Thus family members also started getting infected. Later on when the relation between mesothelioma and asbestos was established, many governments banned the indiscriminate use of asbestos. Many restrictions were imposed. But by that time many have already become victims of mesothelioma infection.
Once we inhale asbestos particles through the air, they get accumulated in the protective lining of the lungs and other vital organs. This triggers chemical reactions which result in abnormal and uncontrolled division of mesothelium cells. This continues for a number of years with the result that the infection spreads and cancer symptoms appear.
Asbestos can cause a series of other ailments like the lung cancer, but mesothelioma is the most dangerous of all. Precautionary measures like wearing protective masks, showering and changing cloths etc have made work with asbestos somewhat less risk prone. But mesothelioma cases still appear here and there. Every year at least 3000 people get diagnosed to be carrying this disease in the United States alone and the number around the world must be many times than that. It should also be mentioned here that some countries have no such asbestos laws and people are exposed unscrupulously by greedy employees to asbestos exposure and its aftereffects.
Since there is an umbilical relation between mesothelioma and asbestos, workers are entitled to monetary compensation. The amount, which may run to millions, can help to cover treatment expenses and loss of income.
Posted by brenttyler7487
at 4:56 PM EDT
