Asbestos

Types of Asbestos Injury

Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium tissue - which is made up of cells called mesothelial cells that line the lungs, chest cavity, and the cavity around the heart and abdomen. Malignant mesothelium tumors are cancerous growths that develop on the tissue. These tumors can be benign (noncancerous), but such a diagnosis is rare.

Malignant mesothelioma tumors are generally referred to as mesothelioma due to the fact that most cases are indeed cancerous. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. It is a type of cancer that is considered to have only one cause: asbestos exposure.

Lung Cancer
Lung cancer occurs when cancerous cells, or malignant cells, originate in the lung or lungs. These cells could develop into a tumor and cause a blockage of the air passages as it continues to get larger. This blockage often causes the person to have difficulty breathing. The most common asbestos-related cancer, lung cancer is the most found in present or ex-smokers who have a history of asbestos exposure.

Asbestosis
Asbestosis is the scarring of lung tissue from repeated inhalation of asbestos fibers. This scarring reduces the ability of the lung tissue to expand and contract, thereby preventing the efficient delivery of oxygen from the lungs to the blood. Asbestosis makes breathing more difficult due to decreased lung volume. Asbestosis has been a term utilized by some in the medical field to describe any sort of cancer attributable to asbestos.

Pleural Disease
The mesothelial cells that together line the lungs and other internal cavities create the mesothelium tissue of the body. The mesothelium of the chest is called the pleura and the mesothelium of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. Thus when a scarring of the pleura – lining of the lung – occurs, the potentially cancerous state is known as pleural disease. The greater a body's exposure to, and inhalation of, asbestos, the larger the scarring, and more severe the risk of one of the above conditions.