Even though mesothelioma asbestos is a widely used material, few people understand the horrible side effects this mineral causes.

Sadly, most companies knew of its devastating side effects (mesothelioma cancer) and still used it.

If you fear that you have malignant mesothelioma, please read on to learn more about mesothelioma cancer.

Historical facts about mesothelioma and asbestos

• The asbestos mineral has been used since ancient times. Greeks and Romans wove the fibers into tablecloths, napkins, and clothes, and threw them into fires to clean their fire places. Historical records show that slaves forced to handle asbestos lived shorter lives and usually died of respiratory and breathing problems.

• The asbestos mineral was used extensively in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the industrial revolution drove the Western Europe and the United States economies.

• During World War II, hundreds of thousands of military and Navy personnel were exposed to asbestos on a massive scale.  Most of these service people are now starting to show symptoms of asbestos related diseases.

• Most asbestos companies knew the risks of their dangerous products, but chose to downplay or straight out ignore the role asbestos played in many illnesses, in order to continue to profit at their workers' expense.

• While people have known for hundreds of years the dangers of handling asbestos, the first documented death in the United States, caused by exposure to asbestos, was documented in medical journals in 1924.

Current facts about mesothelioma and asbestos

• Well over 10,000 people a year are diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos related conditions worldwide, with over 3,000 in the United States alone.

• Mesothelioma experts estimate that over 110,000 schools in the United States still contain asbestos in one form or another!

• While cigarette smoking may not cause malignant mesothelioma, victims exposed to asbestos, who alos smoke, suffer a 50-90% increase in the likelihood of developing lung cancer.

• These days, asbestos is banned or highly regulated in most industrialized countries around the world.

• Survival of malignant mesothelioma, after diagnosis, is measured in months, not years, due to the fact that by the time mesothelioma cancer is detected, its too advanced for most types of treatment.

• Because mesothelioma cancer has a long dormancy, mesothelioma experts speculate that there will be a large increase of asbestos related cases for the next twenty to thrity years!

Legal facts about mesothelioma and asbestos

• The first injury lawsuit, regarding asbestos poisoning, was filled in 1966 in Texas against Owens Corning Fiberglass, Johns-Manville, Fibreboard and several other smaller manufacturers.

• Not surprisingly, most mesothelioma cases settle for an average of $750,000 and $8 million.

• More than 500,000 asbestos related cases have been filed, with over 50,000 in 1998 alone.

• Legal records show that over 8 million people have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos in the United States alone. And believe it or not, asbestos still continues to pose a threat to blue and white collar workers in many occupations.

• Sadly, new legislation before the United States Senate, known as the Hatch Bill, could potentially limit the amount of compensation victims of asbestos related diseases could receive. Aren't you glad the government cares about you more than big business?

If you feel you are a victim of an asbestos related disease or mesothelioma, ACT NOW!

If you or someone you love is suffering from asbestos poisoning or mesothelioma, you have certain legal rights that you need to know about. One way to take a stand against the asbestos industry, that put their profits ahead of your health, is to take legal action against them. You are entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering, but if you hesitate, you may lose your chance for justice due to your state's statute of limitation laws. 

Let the mesothelioma lawyers in our directory help you fight. Contact them today.