Frequently Asked Questions about Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Q: What is asbestos? A: A microscopic threadlike fiber, asbestos is a common mineral found throughout the world. It is mined and used in consumer products and construction materials because of its strength and flexibility and its heat-resistant properties. If asbestos becomes airborne and dusty, it can be breathed into and lodged in the lungs. Asbestos particles in the lungs can cause terrible - even fatal - diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer that can take decades to develop after asbestos exposure. Q: Who are the typical victims of asbestos diseases like mesothelioma? A: Most typically, victims of asbestos disease and injury are people exposed to high concentrations of asbestos in industrial settings over extended periods. Workers in the following industries and professions have been historically at high risk: asbestos mining; manufacturing of asbestos-containing products such as insulation, piping, and ceiling and flooring materials; shipbuilding; welding, plumbing, pipe fitting and steam fitting; railroads; building demolition; and construction. Read More |
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It can take from 10 to 40 years for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear. Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in virtually all cases. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there are asbestos containing materials in most of the nation's approximately 107,000 primary and secondary schools, and 733,000 public and commercial buildings. To schedule an appointment with an Asbestos Litigation Attorney at Cooney & Conway please call or or complete the Free Case Evaluation. |
Cooney & Conway, founded in 1958, is a plaintiffs' only firm located in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The firm currently has 20 exceptional attorneys, with years of successful litigation experience. The main practice area of the firm is asbestos litigation, where our attorneys serve as advocates for victims of asbestos related diseases and their families. In our years of practice, we have successfully handled large numbers of asbestos litigation cases in Illinois and throughout the United States. In northern Illinois alone, we handle approximately 90% of all mesothelioma cases.
Asbestos: An Invisible Killer
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has been used as insulation and a fire retardant in a wide variety of products. Asbestos can produce dust that, when inhaled, becomes deposited in the lungs. Asbestos in the lungs can cause or contribute to the development of illnesses, especially mesothelioma (a malignant form of cancer in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavities), asbestosis (a fibrous scarring of the lungs) and lung cancer.
If you have an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma, contact our firm to learn more about your potential legal remedies.
Mesothelioma Basics
Mesothelioma, a relatively rare condition, is an aggressive cancer almost always linked to contact with asbestos. Typically, people suffering from mesothelioma have a history of asbestos exposure. However, the exposure may have been for a period as short as a week.
Other Asbestos-Related Diseases
In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to airborne asbestos fibers increases the risk of two other major diseases: asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos exposure also heightens the risk of stomach, and larynx cancer. Asbestos-related diseases can take decades to develop, often manifesting after retirement from an industrial career that involved asbestos exposure. Governmental regulation of asbestos has tightened since the 1970s, which has greatly reduced the number of people exposed to asbestos.
Legal Redress for Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Injuries
In the past century, millions of people were exposed to harmful, airborne asbestos fibers in industrial settings and through the use of asbestos-containing products and construction materials. Sometimes the dangerous, often fatal, diseases from breathing or ingesting asbestos fibers do not manifest for up to 50 years. People exposed decades ago are developing asbestos-induced illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis today.
Common Aspects of Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral used in construction materials and consumer products for its fire-resistant and strengthening properties. When asbestos is released into the air in microscopic, dusty and threadlike fibers, it can be breathed into the body and lodge dangerously in the lungs, where it can lurk for decades before producing severe, even fatal, diseases, such as mesothelioma.
Asbestos and Mesothelioma Resource LinksAsbestos Exposure: Questions and Answers American Lung Association: Mesothelioma Fact Sheet National Cancer Institute: Malignant Mesothelioma American Cancer Society: Asbestos American Cancer Society: Malignant Mesothelioma |
