Mesothelioma Continues to Threaten the United States

In a recent report conducted by Baird Institute for Applied Heart and Lung Surgical Research in Australia, mesothelioma continues to threaten Americans exposed to asbestos fibers.  The Institute’s research indicates that mesothelioma cases have been declining slowly in the U.S. since 2005, but because Americans are still being exposed to the deadly toxin through home improvement projects and second-hand exposure, approximately 85,000 new cases of mesothelioma are expected to be reported in the United States over the next 30 years.

Asbestos fibers that are inhaled into the lungs can lay dormant for up to 40 years before a diagnosis of mesothelioma occurs.  The deadly fibers burrow deep into the lung tissue, causing inflammation and irritation. Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, treatment options are limited, and death usually occurs within a 12 month period.  Though laws prohibiting the mining and importation of asbestos-related products have been in place in the U.S. for almost 20 years, Americans continue to be exposed to the deadly toxin through non-occupational and second-hand exposure.  The Baird study reported that men are most likely to develop mesothelioma and have an increased risk for the disease as they age because of the long period of dormancy between exposure and the development of mesothelioma.

Unreported Cases of Mesothelioma in Developing Countries May Mask Reality of Global Deaths

The recent study conducted by Baird Institute revealed that mesothelioma may be more widespread than what the current data suggests.  Cases of mesothelioma are not regularly reported by many countries, so the incidence of the disease may be more widespread than the death records indicate.  Currently, Great Britain and Australia have the highest number of mesothelioma cases reported each year, but without reliable data from the underdeveloped countries, it is difficult to determine accurate numbers.

The Philadelphia Asbestos Law Firm of Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler Represent Victims of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

The Philadelphia asbestos lawyers of Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler have been representing victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases for almost 30 years.  Our attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure seek justice and compensation.  If you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos, or has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, contact our law offices at 800-369-0899 or submit an online inquiry.  Our offices are conveniently located in center city Philadelphia, and we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.