ASBESTOS SECONDHAND CIGARETTE SMOKE
Cigarette smoke will make an asbestos-related illness much worse, says federal health agency

The perils of secondhand cigarette smoke: When a cigarette smoker is exposed to asbestos, their risk of developing lung cancer increases 50 to 84 times, according to a June 2006 report published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Control (ATSDR).

August 2, 2010 – The risk of lung cancer greatly increases when you smoke cigarettes and are exposed to asbestos, a carcinogenic building material used in the construction industry. Similar risks exist for nonsmokers who are regularly exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke.

Studies show that the risk of developing lung cancer multiplies with exposure to asbestos and cigarette smoke (whether it be a direct exposure or secondhand cigarette smoke).

There are more than 4,000 toxic chemicals found in directly inhaled or secondhand cigarette smoke. Of these toxic chemicals, more than 60 have been linked to cancer in humans, including benzene, cadmium and cyanide, according to a report titled "Cigarette Smoking, Asbestos Exposure, and Your Health" published June, 2006, by the ATSDR.

The ATSDR is the federal health agency whose responsibility is to provide health information to the public and to prevent harmful exposures to hazardous chemicals and waste.

Cigarette smoke and asbestos, a lethal combination

Every year, cigarette smoking causes approximately 444,000 deaths in the United States, primarily due to cancer, heart disease and stroke.

By comparison, some 10,000 deaths are attributed to asbestos exposure each year, primarily due to cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma (the signature asbestos-related disease). Asbestos exposure occurs most frequently in industrial venues, like the construction, automotive and shipbuilding industries.

Asbestos exposure and secondhand cigarette smoke can both cause lung cancer. When a cigarette smoker is exposed to asbestos, their risk of lung cancer increases by 50 to 84 times, according to the ATSDR.

Furthermore, secondhand cigarette smoke will make an asbestos-related illness much worse. Asbestosis, for example, a long-term degenerative disease caused by asbestos exposure, makes it difficult for oxygen to pass through the lungs to clear out toxic chemicals, like those found in secondhand cigarette smoke.

Legal options

Thousands of retired workers diagnosed with job-related asbestos disease have filed asbestos claims against asbestos product manufacturers and obtained substantial compensations for their injuries.

Weitz & Luxenberg is New York’s preeminent asbestos-injury law firm, and is recognized in the legal community for obtaining record-setting verdicts and settlements for clients.

Protect your family’s financial future today. Use the communication form here to contact an asbestos attorney at Weitz & Luxenberg for a free appraisal of your case and to determine your eligibility to receive financial compensation for mounting medical bills and lost wages.