Asbestos

San Diego asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers answer frequently asked questions about asbestos cases and mesothelioma diagnosis

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, and is commonly seen in men who have had occupational exposure. This often fatal form of cancer develops in the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Mesothelioma can also develop in the lining of the pericardium and peritoneal cavities.

What are the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma?
The most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are shortness of breath and pain in and around the back and rib cage. It also causes productive coughing along with fatigue and loss of appetite. The diagnosis is established by a tissue biopsy. A qualified pulmonary pathologist performs a battery of tests, including immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis.

Is an autopsy necessary?
If the victim has died from a suspected mesothelioma, Casey Gerry's mesothelioma lawyers know that an autopsy will be a critically helpful tool. In conducting an autopsy, the pathologist can have not only the special staining and structural analysis performed, but also can conduct a visual inspection. Mesotheliomas present a striking and unique appearance, a thick rind of grayish tumor surrounding one or both lungs. A diagnosis established by autopsy is the gold standard for asbestos mesothelioma litigation, the most authoritative and certain diagnosis.

Where is asbestos found?
Over 3,000 products still found in homes and offices contain deadly asbestos fibers, used for heat and acoustic insulation, fireproofing, and roofing or flooring. Our asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers have identified some of the products that often contain asbestos:

• Building and ship insulation
• Wall and ceiling acoustical tiles
• Carpet underlays
• Roofing materials
• Cements
• Artificial fireplaces and materials
• Patching and spackling compounds
• Car and truck brake pads and linings
• Pot holders and ironing board pads
• Flame-proof oven mitts
• Hair dryers
• Floor tiles
• Electrical wire insulation
• Textured paints
• Toasters, space heaters and other household appliances
• Furnaces and furnace door gaskets
• Pipe and duct insulation

How does asbestos get into the air?
Asbestos law recognizes that even asbestos contained in such well-bonded materials as floor tiles and painted surfaces can become loose and airborne if these materials are cut, scraped, filed, sanded, or removed. Asbestos litigation has found deadly asbestos fibers released from remodeling or demolition of buildings in San Diego, La Quinta, Coachella, Riverside, and other Southern California cities.

Should I remove asbestos from my home?
Since asbestos removal is a complex and dangerous procedure, it should only be done by a licensed contractor with special training and equipment. Exposure through improper removal of asbestos may result in a significant increase in your health risks.

What asbestos risks are there in workplaces?
Workers in San Diego, El Centro, and Temecula businesses that manufactured and installed asbestos products faced the greatest risk of exposure. Our asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers have represented workers exposed in textiles, friction products, insulation and other building materials, and automotive brake and clutch repair work.

Is the causal relationship between asbestos and mesothelioma proven?
Asbestos attorneys have studied the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma for more than fifty years. Asbestos litigation has established that of all the forms of asbestos minerals, amphibole and serpentine asbestos, the most common forms of the fiber, lead to the development of malignant mesothelioma. The federal government has long acknowledged that the inhalation of all forms of asbestos fibers are associated with the development of both malignant and non-malignant asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.