New Orleans Asbestos Blog

Mesothelioma has a long and complicated name, but most researchers agree its cause is relatively simple. The disease, which manifests as a cancer in the tissues surrounding the lungs or the heart, is largely recognized to be associated with exposure to asbestos.

The chalky and crystaline substance has been on markets as a way to prevent fire for many years, but the last half century has seen a lot of regulation on the manufacturing and sales of tiles, panels and tubing that include asbestos. Some countries outside the United States have banned the material entirely.

Clean air and clean water are often considered a human right. But the reality is that some places have better or worse air quality, and that can have a real cost on quality of life. Those costs may also be medical expenses if people suffer from lung cancer, asthma and other ailments that can be common in polluted air.

Louisiana has paid too high a price in creating many of the country's ships, chemicals and other necessary products. Exposure to asbestos has been associated with various types of cancer that have been diagnosed in the Bayou State's shipyard workers, factory labor and others. The entire populations of some towns are at higher risk in Louisiana, a state which already has higher air pollutant levels than most of the United States.

Sickness is one of the few things that can go wrong for which we don't often blame other people. After all, who knows what causes a lot of health problems? In a few cases, however, we do know what causes problems. One of the ailments that is ascribed to traceable sources is mesothelioma. People afflicted with this condition have been seeking compensation for decades, and the few people still suffering often have the same option.

What is mesothelioma?

The vast majority of mesothelioma cases involve the lungs. In fact, the data suggests that around 75% of all cases involving this asbestos-related cancer involve the inhalation of the toxic substance.

However, you may need to be aware of other, even more rare forms of mesothelioma if you ever suffered exposure to asbestos. Not everyone develops a cough or chest pain. Since early treatment is crucial when it comes to this cancer, you may want at least a basic understanding of the other types so that you can better identify symptoms and receive medical attention as soon as possible.