Anyone in Ohio who suffers with mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis — or knows someone who has — understands the physical and emotional pain that accompanies the diagnosis. It is safe to say that the exact number of asbestos-related deaths is not known. This is because public health administrators do not always attribute a disease to asbestos exposure. For example, despite the fact that many cases of lung cancer are related to asbestos contamination, that fact is seldom included in a victim’s cause of death statement.
Since 1964, when the first medical study linked asbestos to the deaths of workers exposed to it, researchers have not been able to pin down a more accurate number of victims. Despite the fact that the use of asbestos has declined in the past quarter century, the rate of fatalities from asbestos-related diseases has not. In fact, in the past 15 years, the number of deaths attributed to asbestos has risen slightly. This may be because more doctors are recognizing and reporting asbestos as a primary cause of certain fatal illnesses.
The three main diseases associated with the inhalation of toxic asbestos fibers are mesothelioma, asbestosis and certain lung cancers. Mesothelioma cancer is always fatal, and it affects the lining of the lungs as well as the heart, chest cavity, reproductive system and gastrointestinal system. Asbestosis is a painful fibrosis in the lungs that results in an excruciating death by suffocation. Some research shows that cancers in other parts of the body — such as the ovaries, stomach and larynx — may also be linked to asbestos exposure.
There is no denying the suffering of the victims of asbestos-related deaths. The families of these victims suffer right along with them. Until a cure is found for these diseases and asbestos is banned for good, the best recourse someone in Ohio has is to seek recompense. A lawyer who has successfully litigated asbestos exposure claims can work to get victims and families the financial relief that is needed.
Source: asbestosnation.org, “Asbestos kills 12,000-15,000 people per year in the U.S“, Sonya Lunder, Accessed on Dec. 11, 2016
