Corporations knew about the cancer risk but many exposed their workers to the threat of mesothelioma.

Health officials knew many decades ago that anybody exposed to asbestos would be at risk for developing mesothelioma and other cancers from asbestos.

Despite this knowledge, many makers of asbestos products carried on with business as usual, hiding the cancer risk and allowing their workers to toil unprotected.

Today, the government seeks to mitigate the health risks for mesothelioma cancer.

Below is some information you may find useful about asbestos and the health risks to exposure:

How likely is asbestos to cause cancer?
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the EPA have determined that asbestos is a human carcinogen.

Breathing asbestos may increase the risk of cancer in men and women.

There are two types of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos: lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin lining surrounding the lung (pleural membrane) or abdominal cavity (the peritoneum).

Asbestos cancers do not develop immediately; they show up 15-20 years later, or more.

Breathing asbestos may increase the risk of getting cancer of the stomach, intestines, esophagus, pancreas, and kidneys.

It is important to identify and treat treat any cancer as quickly as possible to increase quality of life and survival prospects.

Many people are unaware that cigarette smoke and asbestos together significantly increase your chances of getting lung cancer.

It is therefore essential to stop smoking if you have been exposed to asbestos. This may be the most important action that you can take to improve your health and decrease your risk of cancer.

Many workers have come forward to say the exposure risks in their work environment led to a diagnosis of mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer from asbestos.

If this has been your experience, we may be able to help.

For over two decades, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C. has handled some of the most legally complicated and groundbreaking asbestos litigation in the country. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure or secondary exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease.

If you would like a free consultation or more information about your legal options, please complete the form on this page, and a representative of our law firm will contact you as soon as possible.