Understanding Mesothelioma

From the Industrial Revolution through the 1980s, many companies used asbestos in manufacturing without significant regulation.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral which is easily separated into thin, microscopic threads. These fibers are strong, flexible, heat-resistant and do not conduct electricity. For nearly five thousand years, people have recognized the desirable properties of asbestos. Unfortunately, for nearly as long, its dangers have also been evident.

The very nature of the mineral’s thin fibers and the ease with which they are released into the air is the root of its danger. When these fibers are inhaled during an individual’s exposure to asbestos, the can become lodged in the lungs and, over time, cause serious, asbestos-related illnesses.

The first case of disease linked to asbestos was diagnosed in 1924 in the United Kingdom. Throughout to ‘30s and ‘40s, the use of asbestos continued to expand, particularly in industrial settings.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that asbestos was officially regulated in the United States.