Considering the Workers Facing the Risk of Mesothelioma On Labor Day

• Nancy Meredith
• Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma is one of many cancers that is still considered to be incurable, and the tragedy is that mesothelioma is an entirely preventable disease. Associated with exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, chest or abdomen that is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

Most at-risk for developing mesothelioma are trade workers such as insulators, plumbers and pipefitters, electricians, sheet metal workers, auto mechanics, refinery and factory workers, construction workers and shipyard workers linked to asbestos exposure in workplaces.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.3 million construction and general industry workers in the United States potentially are being exposed to asbestos.

The World Health Organization estimates that asbestos causes approximately half of all deaths from occupational cancer, and 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos in the workplace due to lack of knowledge about the risks.

Today, as Americans celebrate the Labor Day holiday, a federal holiday designated as a day to celebrate the economic and social contributions of workers, remember that many workers continue to endure unnecessary health risks from asbestos exposure.

Most often mesothelioma patients had been exposed to asbestos over a period of years. Mesothelioma has an extended latency period and strikes 15 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos. Each year 2,500 to 4,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseasesaw.