Asbestos Lung Cancer
Asbestos Exposure—a Factor for Lung Cancer
Asbestos is considered a major cause of lung cancer. Asbestos lung cancer has been shown to develop in the absence of other cancer causing agents.
Asbestos exposure combined with smoking greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer. If you inhale both of these substances, you run a greater risk of disease than if you were exposed to either substance alone. Because the likelihood of contracting lung cancer is dose–dependent, every exposure to these deadly substances increases your disease potential.
Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer?
Our asbestos attorneys at Brayton Purcell are currently evaluating lung cancer cases with either occupational or secondary exposure to asbestos. If you would like to learn about your legal options, please fill out this short form and we will contact you to discuss your case.
Tobacco Use—a Factor for Asbestos Lung Cancer
Independent of asbestos exposure, cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer mortality in the United States. Nationwide, smoking results in more than 5.6 million years of potential life lost each year. That translates to about 440,000 people per year who die from tobacco use (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tobacco Information and Prevention).
Smokers with no existing lung damage from smoking or asbestos exposure who quit smoking by age 50 can cut risk of death in the next 15 years by 50%. For smokers with exposure to asbestos, the risk of developing lung cancer increases based on the volume of asbestos exposure over time.
For more information about how asbestos lung cancer develops, see Asbestos Lung Cancer on Asbestos Network.
For more information about the harmful effects of tobacco and resources to help you choose the best method to quit smoking, see Tobacco Health Dangers.
Beryllium Exposure—a Factor Linked to Lung Cancer
The U.S. Agency for Toxic Control and Disease Registry lists long–term beryllium exposure as a risk factor for lung cancer, based on studies by the Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) labels beryllium a “probable” cause of cancer. The agency has estimated that lifetime exposure to 0.04 µg/m3 beryllium can result in a one in one thousand chance of developing cancer. Continual exposure to beryllium increases the risk of developing serious respiratory diseases; see beryllium diseases for additional information.
Asbestos Lung Cancer—Legal Representation
For over 25 years, Brayton Purcell has represented clients affected by the devastating effects of asbestos cancer. Our asbestos attorneys can help you recover necessary damages from those responsible for your asbestos related disease. For a free evaluation of your potential case, please contact us with your questions and see how Brayton Purcell can help you.