Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Asbestos diseases, especially mesothelioma, have long been thought of as occupational disease because the majority of victims come into contact with this deadly toxin in the workplace.  However, with long time ban on asbestos materials here in the United States, there has been a slight shift in the demographic of mesothelioma victims.  A greater percentage of victims can now trace their initial exposure to non-occupational settings.  And not surprisingly, non-occupational exposure carries different risks with it.  In fact, one recent study from the  shows that non-occupational exposure leads to a much higher incidence of peritoneal mesothelioma while occupational exposure is still the leading cause of pleural mesothelioma.

The Wake Forest University study examined the cases of 384 individual mesothelioma patients, collecting information from medical records and self-reports, separating each supposed incidence of exposure.  The data accumulated by researchers show that peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for just 9.4 percent of all mesothelioma cases related to occupational exposure.  However, five times as many victims of the disease can trace their illness to non-occupational exposure.  That makes it a total of 47 percent of all peritoneal mesothelioma cases.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer which causes tumor growth in the peritoneum – the soft tissue that surrounds and encases the abdomen, digestive tracts, and even partially encloses the male sex organs.  This type of the disease is thought to represent roughly one-quarter of all mesothelioma cases.  Pleural mesothelioma, on the other hand, attacks the pleura – the membrane which surrounds the lungs, heart, and other vital organs in the chest cavity.  Pleural mesothelioma encompasses nearly 75% of all diagnoses.

Of the two types of this deadly disease, peritoneal mesothelioma is often viewed as less dangerous simply because it is more easily treated and doesn’t carry that associated risk to the lungs and heart.  However, the disease is still fatal and though patients do respond better to various forms of traditional and radical treatments, it is still a very serious, costly, and devastating illness. 

The nature of non-occupational exposure is a highly debated topic.  Many cases involve “secondary exposure.”  Asbestos fibers can cling to clothing, hair, skin, and even tools.  When people exposed in an occupational setting carry these fibers home on their person, they can then be inhaled or ingested by roommates, family members, and other household companions (first degree relatives.) 

Additionally, non-occupational exposure can occur simply by living in an older structure manufactured with asbestos materials.  Secondary exposure is just as dangerous but often hard to prove in mesothelioma lawsuits as victims try to seek restitution or compensation. 

Researchers also discovered that the latency period of the disease differed when measured against exposure type, though no concrete reason was given for this difference.  The latency period (span of time between asbestos exposure and recognition of visible symptoms) can be as long as 50+ years.  Researchers revealed that the average latency period of mesothelioma cases linked to occupational exposure in this study’s population was 49.1 years whereas the period for non-occupational exposure was just 42.7 years. 

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we can help you to file an asbestos lawsuit.  Because asbestos litigation is very complex, we strongly recommend that you seek counsel from a lawfirm that specializes in mesothelioma lawsuits such as ours.  Call today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our expert attorneys at  800-440-4262.