Maine Occupational Asbestosis Disease Surveillance Program

Introduction to the Maine Occupational Asbestosis Disease program.

The attorneys at the personal injury law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg have decades of experience defending victims’ rights in practice areas that include: accidents/general injury, dangerous drugs, medical malpractice, and environmental pollutants.

NEWS UPDATE:

Read more about how the Maine Occupational Disease Surveillance Program classifies asbestosis, a chronic lung disease stemming from exposure to asbestos.

Asbestosis refers to the accumulation of asbestos dust (fibers) in the lungs and the tissue reaction to its presence. Strictly speaking, it refers to a fibrotic reaction in the lung parenchyma.

Usually, at least 10 years of exposure are required before the small irregular opacities suggestive of asbestosis appear in the lower lung zones on the chest radiograph. Asbestosis may cause impairment of lung volumes and gas exchange and premature mortality.

In some cases, symptoms (e.g., decreased diffusing capacity) may occur before chest radiograph changes are visible. Typical lung tissue pathology includes asbestos bodies with diffuse fibrosis (peribronchiolar, interstitial, or honeycomb).

Major Occupations at Risk

Examples of occupations where there may be asbestos exposure include: