While there are not many causes, mesothelioma is a devestating illness to contract. If you have been diagnosed, it is important to understand the causes os mesothelioma in Texas because it could mean grounds for a personal injury claim and lawsuit. Get in touch with the mesothelioma attorneys at Ted Lyon Law today to find out if you have a case.
Mesothelioma: What Is It & What Compensation Is Available?
Mesothelioma: Why Choose a Texas Attorney?
What Are the Causes of Mesothelioma?
Rare and incurable, mesothelioma has only one confirmed cause: asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made of thin, microscopic fibers with no smell or taste. The fibers are resistant to heat, corrosion, and electricity, properties that made asbestos popular as an insulator in homes, Navy ships, schools, commercial buildings, and hundreds of other applications.
Asbestos is mined today mostly in Russia, Canada, and a few small former Soviet countries. It is illegal in many nations. However, it is not banned in the U.S. The use of asbestos in the U.S. has dropped drastically since the 1970s. Today, millions of tons of mesothelioma-causing asbestos are destroyed every year as old buildings are torn down and replaced, including in Texas.
Unfortunately, asbestos is also highly toxic and carcinogenic. When a person inhales the fibers, they become trapped in the body forever, eventually causing inflammation, scarring, and, most troubling, genetic damage to body cells. This genetic damage is what many experts believe causes mesothelioma tumors to occur.
Occupational Exposure to Asbestos
Over the years, doctors noticed that mesothelioma patients often had similar types of jobs. While not all causes of mesothelioma cases in Texas are work-related, on-the-job asbestos exposure continues to be the most common cause of this type of cancer. It frequently occurs in people whose jobs involve:
- Mining
- Military service (we’ve written several articles about mesothelioma and the military)
- Construction, roofing, and carpentry
- Installing insulation
- Working in shipyards
- Working power plants
Are There Any Other Potential Causes of Mesothelioma?
While asbestos exposure is the only confirmed cause of this cancer, there are several other factors that could play a role in mesothelioma development in Texas. These include:
- Zeolites: Like asbestos, these are tiny, fibrous minerals. They are often found in volcanic ash and have been linked to other types of cancer.
- Radiation exposure: Some mesothelioma sufferers state that they have never been exposed to asbestos, but they instead believe radiation caused the cancer. This has yet to be confirmed.
- High aspect ratio nanoparticles (HARNs): These particles are known to be harmful to human health, but evidence that it specifically causes mesothelioma is lacking.
Contact Our Powerful Advocates in Texas to Learn About the Causes of Mesothelioma
If you or someone you love has mesothelioma, learn more about the causes of mesothelioma in Texas with the lawyers at Ted Lyon Law. You may have a valid legal claim and be entitled to compensation. Find out more during a free attorney consultation. Call our firm today at 877-Ted-Lyon (833-5966) or contact us online anytime.
