Mesothelioma FAQs

At SimmonsCooper, we believe information is the most powerful weapon you can have. It is natural to have questions, particularly about the complex medical conditions potentially caused by asbestos exposure.

• What is asbestos?
• How is asbestos used?
• How are people exposed to asbestos?
• What are the health risks associated with asbestos exposure?
• How does asbestos exposure relate to filing a lawsuit?
• Is asbestos still used today?
• How can I identify materials that contain asbestos?
• Are there any OSHA standards that cover workers exposed to asbestos as part of their jobs?
• Do current OSHA standards require employers to provide education and training for employees exposed to asbestos?
• What if OSHA regulations do not apply to my workplace?
• What is mesothelioma?
• What causes mesothelioma?
• What types of malignant mesothelioma exist?
• What are the common signs and symptoms of malignant mesothelioma?
• How is mesothelioma diagnosis achieved?
• What kinds of treatment options are available?
• Where can I get more medical information about mesothelioma?
• How do I find a doctor or hospital that can help with mesothelioma?

What is asbestos?
“Asbestos” is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as groups of fibers which can be separated into thin, microscopic threads. These fibers are strong, flexible, heat-resistant, and do not conduct electricity. As a result, asbestos was used in thousands of products throughout the 20^th century in the United States.

There are four types of asbestos which have been used commercially:

• Chrysotile (white) asbestos
• Crocidolite (blue) asbestos
• Amosite (brown) asbestos
• Anthophyllite (gray) asbestos

Asbestos fibers easily break into a dust that is composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothing. These fibers can be easily inhaled or swallowed, causing serious health problems.

How is asbestos used?
Asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America beginning in the late 19^th century. Its use became widespread by World War II and continued throughout the 1970’s. Asbestos has been used in numerous industries, primarily for purposes of insulation, fireproofing and sound absorption.

For example, the building and construction industry has used it for cements, plastics, insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption; the automotive industry has used asbestos in brake shoes and clutch pads; and the shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steampipes, and hot water pipes. 

One study estimated that 3,000 different types of commercial products once contained asbestos. The amount of asbestos in each product varied from as little as one percent to as much as 100 percent. Many older plastics, paper products, brake linings, floor tiles and textile products contain asbestos, as do many heavy industrial products such as sealants, cement pipe, cement sheets, and insulation. For a list of some of these products, click here.

How are people exposed to asbestos?
When a product that contains asbestos is cut, sanded, sawed, or otherwise manipulated, microscopic asbestos fibers are released into the air in the form of asbestos dust. This dust is then inhaled or ingested by those who come in contact with it. These tiny particles also stick to a person’s clothing, skin, and hair. As a result, anyone else who comes into contact with that person may also be exposed to this dust. Upon inhalation or ingestion, this dust containing asbestos fibers remains in the lungs where it can cause serious disease. Because asbestos fibers are small, light, odorless, colorless and tasteless, they can stay in the air for a long time and are not easily detected.

For more information about asbestos exposure, please visit our pages about products containing asbestos and trades and types of work that put people at risk of asbestos exposure. 

What are the health risks associated with asbestos exposure?
Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of several serious diseases. Symptoms of these diseases do not generally appear until between 10 and 40 years after someone is exposed to asbestos. 

• Mesothelioma—a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen;
• Asbestosis—a chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage;
• Lung cancer;
• Other cancers, such as those of the larynx, oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney.

How does asbestos exposure relate to filing a lawsuit?
In the United States legal system, manufacturers, suppliers, sellers, and distributors are under a legal duty to provide safe products and to warn those using their products of any potential dangers associated with them. When a company fails to fulfill that duty, legal liability for injuries caused by such a product may attach. For more information about filing a lawsuit based on asbestos exposure, click here.

Is asbestos still used today?
Because of health concerns, all new uses of asbestos in the United States were banned in July 1989. That year, the EPA published Asbestos: Manufacture, Importation, Processing, and Distribution in Commerce Prohibitions, the effect of which was to eventually ban about 94 percent of the asbestos used in the U.S. (based on 1985 estimates). Most asbestos uses established before that date are still allowed, but are now strictly regulated by the government.

There is an effort in the U.S. to completely ban the use of any asbestos.

How can I identify materials that contain asbestos?
Unless a material is labeled, it is difficult to determine whether it contains asbestos simply by looking at it. If you have any doubts about the material, you should treat it as if it contains asbestos, or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional. A professional should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. Taking samples yourself is never recommended because if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone.

Are there any OSHA standards that cover workers exposed to asbestos as part of their jobs?
Yes. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has three standards to protect workers from exposure to asbestos in the workplace: one regulates construction work, including alteration, repair, renovation, and demolition of structures containing asbestos; another covers asbestos exposure during work in shipyards; and the third applies to asbestos exposure in general industry, such as exposure during brake and clutch repair, custodial work, and manufacture of asbestos-containing products.

Do current OSHA standards require employers to provide education and training for employees exposed to asbestos?
Yes. In the construction and shipyard industries, employers must provide education and training for employees exposed above a permissible exposure limit (PEL), and for all employees involved in certain, identified work classifications. In general industry, employers must provide training to all employees exposed above PELs. Employers must also provide asbestos awareness training to employees who perform housekeeping operations covered by OSHA standards. Employers must place warning labels on all asbestos products, containers, and installed construction materials when feasible.

What if OSHA regulations do not apply to my workplace?
The Environmental Protection Agency's "Worker Protection Rule" extends standards implemented by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to state and local employees who perform asbestos work and who are not covered by the OSHA Asbestos Standards, or by a state OSHA plan. The Worker Protection Rule parallels OSHA requirements and covers medical examinations, air monitoring and reporting, protective equipment, work practices, and record keeping. In addition, many State and local agencies have more stringent standards than those required by the Federal government.

What is mesothelioma? 
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that most often occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, chest, and abdomen. Each year, approximately 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos, and symptoms generally appear between 10 and 40 years after an individual was exposed to asbestos.

Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases.

What causes mesothelioma? 
Nearly all cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America beginning in the late 19^th century, its use became widespread by World War II and continued throughout the 1970s. 

 What types of malignant mesothelioma exist? 
There are three primary types of mesothelioma: pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common type of mesothelioma, affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, and pericardial mesothelioma affects the sac that surrounds the heart.

What are the common signs and symptoms of malignant mesothelioma? 
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 10 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, pain in the chest, pleural effusion (fluid surrounding the lung), wheezing, hoarseness, cough, weight loss, abdominal swelling and bowel obstruction. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not hesitate in contacting your physician or health care provider.

Click here for a list of facilities that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma.

How is mesothelioma diagnosis achieved? 
Mesothelioma diagnosis is often quite difficult, since the symptoms associated with mesothelioma are often similar to those of other, less serious conditions. Generally, a physician will begin with an individual’s medical and asbestos exposure history. After a physical examination is conducted, a physician may perform a variety of tests, including a chest X-ray; lung function tests; a CT scan, MRI, or PET scan. If any abnormalities are detected, such as masses or a large amount of lung fluid, your physician will explore your condition further.

What kinds of treatment options are available? 
Research and testing continues to be conducted in an effort to find a cure for mesothelioma. Currently, the most common treatments for mesothelioma are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.  

Where can I get more medical information about mesothelioma? 
The best source of information is your physician or health care provider. Only they can give you truly personalized information.

There are also a number of other reputable sources for information on the internet.

How do I find a doctor or hospital that can help with mesothelioma? 
Since mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, it is advisable that you visit a physician who is a specialist in treating the disease. We work closely with mesothelioma specialists across the country, including the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, which can help you locate a mesothelioma specialist.

Back to Top