Asbestos Lawsuits come in all sizes and forms. That being said, the majority of asbestos claims are product liability cases where an injured party sues the party that is responsible for the exposure. This can include the asbestos manufacturer, distributor, or property owner. There is also a significant amount of asbestos litigation devoted to the loss of real estate value due to asbestos contamination, and the cost for abatement.

Exposure to asbestos can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Asbestosis is the scarring of the lungs caused by inhaling tiny asbestos fibers. This disease can lead to diminished breathing capacity. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer where malignant cells develop in the proctective lining that covers the body’s internal organs. There are 4 types of mesothelioma. Pleural - lung, Peritoneal-abdomen, Pericardial – Heart, Testicular – Tests.

What are some of the symptoms of Mesothelioma?

Symptoms can vary depending on the type of mesothelioma. Some symptoms include:

Weight loss, coughing, difficulty swallowing, lumps, swelling, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, anemia, bowe problems, and fever.

How many people are at risk? It is estimated that over 2,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.

What are the risk factors for developing mesothelioma? Heavy exposure to asbestos in the workplace is the number one risk factor, although some people can develop the disease simply by living with someone who was exposed (second hand exposure).

Research is the key to someday finding a cure to these deadly diseases. The amount of work done on this subject is staggering. One important study is called, "The role of free radicals in asbestos-induced diseases" by Kamp DW, Graceffa P, Pryor WA, Weitzman SA. - Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611. Free Radic Biol Med. 1992;12(4):293-315.

Here is an excerpt:

"Asbestos exposure causes pulmonary fibrosis and malignant neoplasms by mechanisms that remain uncertain. In this review, we explore the evidence supporting the hypothesis that free radicals and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important mechanism by which asbestos mediates tissue damage. There appears to be at least two principal mechanisms by which asbestos can induce ROS production; one operates in cell-free systems and the other involves mediation by phagocytic cells. Asbestos and other synthetic mineral fibers can generate free radicals in cell-free systems containing atmospheric oxygen. In particular, the hydroxyl radical often appears to be involved, and the iron content of the fibers has an important role in the generation of this reactive radical. However, asbestos also appears to catalyze electron transfer reactions that do not require iron. Iron chelators either inhibit or augment asbestos-catalyzed generation of the hydroxyl radical and/or pathological changes, depending on the chelator and the nature of the asbestos sample used. The second principal mechanism for asbestos-induced ROS generation involves the activation of phagocytic cells. A variety of mineral fibers have been shown to augment the release of reactive oxygen intermediates from phagocytic cells such as neutrophils and alveolar macrophages. The molecular mechanisms involved are unclear but may involve incomplete phagocytosis with subsequent oxidant release, stimulation of the phospholipase C pathway, and/or IgG-fragment receptor activation."