The Online Asbestos, Asbestos Cancer, & Mesothelioma Authority
Welcome To Asbestos.Net: The Leading Authority on Asbestos, Asbestos Cancer, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, & Treatment... (Online Since 1997!)
The purpose of this website is to provide the most complete and comprehensive single resource on asbestos-related issues available on the Internet. This website has been created by a dedicated team of researchers in the fields of law, medicine, history, journalism, industrial science and safety, chemistry and geology.
The problem and frustration that many encounter when searching for asbestos-related information on the World Wide Web--whether one is looking for legal, medical, scientific or historical information--is that invariably, one must wade through thousands of sites dedicated soley to law firms who are clamoring for asbestos clients.
Legal issues are definitely a large part of what is happening with asbestos matters today, but there is much more to the picture. Preparing for asbestos litigation--getting a qualified diagnosis, selecting the right law firm to represent your interests, and what you, as an asbestos plaintiff, can reasonably and realistically expect from the process--is only a small part of what you will learn here at Asbestos.net.
Historical Facts
To understand the history of asbestos is to gain a deeper understanding of the issues that presently surround it--from the economic benefits to the incredibly destructive health hazards, and how conflict between these two has shaped events of the past thirty years. And make no mistake--asbestos conferred huge economic benefits. Its fire and heat resistant qualities may have saved hundreds of thousands of lives and protected millions of dollars worth of property from loss due to fire.
However, in human terms, the cost of these benefits was too great. As a recent advertisement from the American Lung Association stated, "when you can't breathe, nothing else matters." Those who deal with statistical analysis may point out that a relatively small percentage of the population actually ever contract asbestos disease--but no living creature should ever have to experience such pain, particularly when it is preventable.
You will also read about the corporate management who was completely aware of asbestos hazards and chose to hide that information from the public, not wishing to risk the high profitability of their product. A large portion of our site is devoted to the individual companies in which there were high levels of asbestos exposure, as well as the companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products.
Legal Issues
Asbestos.net is also your source for legal information. Those who have been affected by asbestos exposure often wonder what their rights are and how they can most effectively exercise those rights and assure themselves of justice.
On this site, you will find well-documented, solid information on every step of the legal process, what is involved, how to prepare an asbestos case, what documentation and/or evidence is needed, and other aspects of the legal process. The site also provides an extensive glossary of legal terms, defined in easy-to-understand language, enabling plaintiffs to interact with their counsel with greater confidence and authority.
Medical Matters
People who develop an asbestos disease are often frightened. While this is completely understandable, it is important to realize that most of it is fear of the unknown.
At Asbestos.net, those suffering from respiratory and other diseases related to asbestos have the opportunity to empower themselves through knowledge. Our medical content is organized to make it easy for you to find the information you need quickly and easily. It is written in clear, non-technical language by educators who have been trained to present technical matters to the average person.
Current News
Our "Current Asbestos News & Information" section features daily articles on asbestos and related issues from around the nation and the world, as well as editorial insights presented with wit and intelligence.
Solid Information You Can Trust
All of the content on this site is thoroughly researched and referenced. Much of the information is based on authoritative print sources not readily available online, including medical journals and court documents. Online resources have been carefully screened for authenticity and legitimacy.
Asbestos.net has all the news and information you need on asbestos issues in one place.
Again, welcome to Asbestos.net.
Asbestos Click above for general information on asbestos, the history of asbestos, exposure, health risks, the asbestos industry, common locations where asbestos is found, and more.
Asbestos Cancer Exposure to asbestos has been shown to cause several different types of cancer, including, among others, lung cancer and one of the most deadly cancers known to man - cancer of the mesothelium, or Mesothelioma. Click above to find information on asbestos cancer symptoms, types, diagnosis methods, treatment options, and more.
Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is one of the most deadly forms of cancer - and THE ONLY known cause is exposure to asbestos. Click above to find information on the many different aspects of this deadly disease, including Malignant Mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma, the types of Mesothelioma, the symptoms of Mesothelioma, how Mesothelioma is diagnosed, the stages of Mesothelioma, support groups, risk factors, research and much more.
Mesothelioma & Asbestos Cancer Treatment Options There are treatment options available for a diagnosis of cancer or mesothelioma. Click above to find information on mesothelioma treatment, conventional & experimental therapies, questions for your doctor, medical centers, clinical trials, and more.
Asbestos Related Lung Cancer Among other life threatening illnesses, exposure to asbestos has been directly linked to the development of lung cancer. Click above for more information on asbestos related lung cancer, including symptoms, facts about the disease, treatment options, and more.
Asbestosis The most prevalent illness associated with asbestos exposure, asbestosis in it's worst form can be deadly, and is extremely painful and degrading to the enjoyment of life in any degree. Click above for information on the causes, effects, legal actions, diagnosis, symptoms, treatments, and more of the life threatening disease asbestosis.
Pleural Disease Pleural disease, which encompasses many different conditions, affects the health and function of the lungs. Click above for more information on common conditions, symptoms, risk factors, treatments, the relationship between pleural diseases and asbestos, and more.
Asbestos Cancer, Mesothelioma, and Our Veterans While all people who develop any form of cancer are to be shown compassion and sympathized with, those that have risked their life to defend their country and way of life deserve a special mention - and tens, or perhaps even hundreds, of thousands of veterans have been exposed to asbestos while serving in the US military in general, and the US Navy in specific. Click above for more information on various aspects of veterans and asbestos exposure, asbestos cancer, lung cancer, and Mesothelioma.
Asbestos, Cancer, & Mesothelioma Legal Concerns & ResourcesWhile learning about the many aspects of asbestos and the diseases causes is important, it can be helpful to understand the legal issues as well. Click above for information on mesothelioma and asbestos cancer lawsuits, lawyers, law firms, litigation, legislation, financial support for victims of asbestos exposure, and more.
Current Asbestos News & Information Click above for current and regularly updated information on all aspects of the asbestos situation in the United States - from coverage of current legislation to new and exciting treatment options available to Mesothelioma patients, and everything in between. Updated Daily!
Occupations At Risk Click above for information the occupations most at risk from or to asbestos exposure - Navy Veterans, Pipefitters, Plumbers, Auto Mechanics, Electricians, and many more.
Job Sites And Asbestos Exposure Over the course of the last century, hundreds of thousands of workers were exposed to asbestos while on the job - click above for more information on both the types of job sites where it has been shown that asbestos exposure was prevalent (Such as aluminum plants, chemical plants, shipyards, steel mills, construction sites, and more...) as well as many specific examples, including Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Consolidated Edison, Alcoa Aluminum, Grand Central Station, Acme Metals, Newport Naval Yard, and many more.
Asbestos: Many people have heard that asbestos is a deadly toxin that causes a host of respiratory problems. However, relatively few know exactly what asbestos is.
Asbestos consists of various forms of rock. In geologic terms, it is considered a type of metamorphic rock (as opposed to igneous or sedimentary rock). Chemically, these various minerals (and there are a total of eight of them) are similar to shale. Unlock other minerals, however, asbestos fibers' unique molecular structure make them flexible like those of cotton or wool.
Asbestos Cancer: It is now well established that asbestos is a carcinogen. Inhalation of asbestos fibers is known to cause numerous cancers, not all of which are respiratory in nature. Asbestos fibers have been found in the gastro-intestinal tract, the larynx, the brain and have even been known to pass from mother to fetus in pregnant women.
The most common asbestos cancers, however, are those of the lung and the pleural linings of the lung and chest, known as the mesothelium.
Medical researchers are not completely certain how asbestos fibers interact with living cells, causing them to mutate--they only know that it does happen.
Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a rare, but particularly deadly and incurable form of cancer that primarily attacks the tissue which lines the outer surface of the lung and the inner surface of the chest--collectively known as the mesothelium. The major cause--and according to many medical authorities, the only known cause--is asbestos exposure.
The mesothelium covers the inner abdominal wall, the gastrointestinal system, and virtually all the organs of the body. Mesothelioma can spread to any of these areas, and even beyond.
The articles in this section deal with the nature of mesothelioma, who contracts it, how it develops and spreads, and prognosis for survival.
Mesothelioma Staging: Like all forms of cancer, mesothelioma goes through several phases as the disease grows and progresses. Oncologists – physicians who specialize in the study and treatment of cancer – use what they call staging to describe these various phases. Essentially, each stage describes how far the malignancy has spread and which organs of the body are affected.
Determining the stage, or extent of the disease helps the oncologist and other doctors on the patient’s team come up with the most effective course of treatment. Here, you will learn more about the various systems physicians use to determine the various stages of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma & Asbestos Cancer Treatment: While mesothelioma is invariably incurable and therefore terminal, there are treatments available that can ease the symptoms and slow the spread of the cancer.
Any treatments must necessarily begin with a diagnosis. This is exceptionally challenging for medical professionals, because not only does the disease exhibit the same symptoms as many other respiratory illnesses, but it also spreads like a sheet over the pleural linings. This means that mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage.
The articles you will find here include topics on how mesothelioma is diagnosed and what treatments are currently available, as well as information on current research.
Asbestos Related Lung Cancer: Lung cancer that is the result of asbestos exposure is not very different from that caused by cigarette smoking (although the combination of the two can be exceptionally deadly). There are some minor differences; however, the treatment for both is essentially the same.
For many decades, medical researchers were not sure if mesothelioma and lung cancer were different diseases. Since 1960, however, it has been ascertained that the two are indeed distinct forms of carcinoma.
The information provided in this section deals with all aspects of asbestos-related lung cancer, including diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for survival.
Asbestosis: In the old days, asbestosis was known as "white lung," and was known to be an occupational hazard of working in asbestos mines. Of the three major asbestos diseases, asbestosis is by far the most common.
Asbestosis can be fatal. It is known to have killed two of the major founders of the asbestos industry: Henry Johns and Edward Alley. You will learn more about these men in this and other sections of the site.
The good news about asbestosis is that when it is caught and diagnosed, it can be stopped from progressing further. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is vital.
Pleural Disease: The word pleura refers to the internal lining of the chest, the outer lining of the lung and the thin space between them. Normally, this space contains a small amount of lymphatic fluid that serves as a lubricant, allowing the lungs to expand easily against the chest wall.
Pleural disease is any condition that compromises these linings and/or the space between them, preventing proper respiratory function. Common pleural diseases include pneumonia and pleurisy. Mesothelioma is also regarded as a pleural disease when it occurs in this region of the body.
Asbestos Cancer, Mesothelioma, and Our Veterans: The men and women who have worn the uniform of any branch of the Armed Services were usually well aware of the risks that went along with that uniform.
They were seldom aware, however, that asbestos was one of them.
Today, decades after surviving the battlefield dangers of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, too many veterans find themselves now under attack from a foe that lies in wait inside their own bodies--asbestos fibers.
Products containing asbestos were especially prevalent on sea-going vessels of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Read more about this "unseen enemy" inside.
Asbestos, Cancer, & Mesothelioma Legal Concerns & Resources: The legal issues that surround asbestos and asbestos disease are many, and highly complex. Even though we now know that corporate crime and malfeasance was largely responsible for the epidemic of asbestos disease, getting relief through the courts is never as simple as bringing suit against an asbestos manufacturer.
Too often, honest people who ran small businesses in which workers were exposed to asbestos were themselves completely unaware of the hazard. Determining liability is only one of the major challenges involved in asbestos litigation. These articles cover all aspects of what has become its own area of legal practice.
Occupations At Risk From Asbestos Exposure: Because of the nature of the industrial world, the truth is that almost any occupation involves some risk of asbestos exposure. This is because low levels of asbestos fibers are virtually always present, especially in and around urban areas.
Generally, however, these levels are not a health hazard.
Industrial workers, on the other hand, often faced dangerous levels of asbestos on a daily basis--and were usually ignorant of the hazard.
Learn more about the specific industrial occupations in which high levels of exposure to asbestos fibers constituted a real and present danger to workers.
Job Sites And Asbestos Exposure:
One of the most difficult parts of preparing an asbestos case is determining liability. Extensive research must be done in order to find out where the asbestos exposure took place and whether or not this exposure was purely accidental or the result of willful negligence.
This involves looking at the victim's place(s) of employment and determining
- whether or not asbestos was present and if so, in what form;
- what knowledge the management of that company had about asbestos hazards; and
- what steps should have been taken to protect employees.
This section covers specific companies where asbestos products were used.
Asbestos, Asbestos Cancer, and Mesothelioma Doctor Biographies: The diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related cancers and other diseases is gradually becoming a sub-specialty in the field of medicine all its own. However, as of the present time, there is no medical degree that is specific to asbestos-related practice.
Most doctors focusing on asbestos disease today are trained in oncology, thoracic surgery, respiratory or occupational medicine, or some related field. It is one of the reasons that patients suffering from mesothelioma or other asbestos cancers are treated by a team of doctors.
In this section, you’ll learn more about the foremost experts in the treatment of asbestos disease from a variety of medical disciplines.
Asbestos Cancer, Lung Cancer, and Mesothelioma Cancer Centers: Although cancer has been around almost as long as life has been on earth, until the late 20th century, what was once known as the “Crab Sickness” was relatively rare.
Today, between 25 and 30% of all Americans will get some form of cancer during their lifetimes. There are many reasons for this, including the modern lifestyle and the poisons that have been put into the environment – of which asbestos is a prime example.
Cancer hospitals have been around for well over a century, but the number of clinics and hospitals that specialize in oncology have increased in response to the growing number of patients. Read more about them here.
Asbestos Cancer, Lung Cancer, and Mesothelioma Clinical Trials: While a complete cure for cancer continues to elude medical researchers, clinical trials in the U.S. as well as Australia, Japan and other countries are pointing in that direction.
A clinical trial is when new medications and treatments are tested on human subjects. Participation in such studies can entail some risks, but for some who are facing an invariably fatal disease, they also represent an opportunity – not only for personal relief, but to serve the greater good in the advancement of medical knowledge.
In this section, you’ll learn more about the clinical trials underway, and how you can take part.