Asbestos is a mineral that is found is certain sedimentary deposits, and has been used in thousands of products in the past. When it is damaged, asbestos can break into tiny fibers. If these fibers are inhaled, they can settle into the lungs and cause a fatal disease known as mesothelioma. In some cases, it can take between thirty and forty years before any of the symptoms of mesothelioma appear. Over the years, there have been hundreds if not thousands of scientific studies regarding asbestos. Below is a summary of some well known studies.

Asbestos: scientific developments and implications for public policy (1990)

BT Mossman, J Bignon, M Corn, A Seaton, and JB Gee
Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington 05405.

“Asbestos is a commercial term for a group of fibrous minerals often associated with the development of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (asbestosis), lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma in occupationally exposed individuals. The pathogenicity of different forms of asbestos varies--long, thin amphibole fibers are most pathogenic, particularly in the induction of mesothelioma. Available data do not support the concept that low-level exposure to asbestos is a health hazard in buildings and schools. The concentration of asbestos fibers in air, type of asbestos, and size of fibers must be considered in evaluation of potential health risks.”

Mesothelioma mortality in asbestos workers: implications for models of carcinogenesis and risk assessment.
J. Peto, H. Seidman, and I. J. Selikoff Br J Cancer. 1982 January; 45(1): 124–135.

"Mesothelioma death rates in asbestos workers appear to be proportional to the 3rd or 4th power of time from first exposure under a wide range of conditions of exposure for both pleural and peritoneal tumours, though the peritoneal:pleural ratio depends on fibre dimension and type. Age at first exposure has little or no influence, however, which supports the "multi-stage" model of carcinogenesis under which the increase in most cancer incidence rates with age is due to a constant incidence of genetic or epigenetic accidents, rather than to progressive generalized changes in regulatory or immune function. These relationships provide a simple basis for risk assessment, and support the suggestion that mesotheliomas may constitute a high proportion of cancer deaths resulting from early exposure to asbestos."

Take Action

If you or a loved one has been harmed by asbestos you may have a legal claim against one of the manufacturers, you should contact meso attorney to determine your legal rights and options. Some of the companies that manufactured, sold or designed products with asbestos include (this is partial list):

Calaveras Asbestos, Ltd., Capco Pipe Company, Inc., Carlisle / Motion Control, Caterpillar, Celotex Corporation, Certainteed Corporation, Chevron U.S.A., Inc., Chrysler, CleaverBrooks, Combustion Engineering, Congoleum Corporation,Continental Teves, Cooper Industries, Crane Co., Crown, Cork & Seal Company, Daimler Chrysler, Inc., Dana Corporation, DB Riley, Deere & Co., Deleval, Domco Products, Dow Chemical Co., Dowman Products, Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., Eaton Corp.,Fibreboard Corporation, Flexitallic Gasket Company, Flintkote, Ford Motor Company, Forty-Eight Insulations, Foster Wheeler, GAF-Ruberoid, Gardner Denver, Garlock, Inc., General Electric Company, General Motors, General Refractories Company, Genuine Parts Co. / NAPA, Georgia Pacific Corporation, Gould Pumps, Inc., Hamilton Materials