Asbestos' lengthy history means many have been harmed

The lengthy history of asbestos' use in insulation and other capacities means there's also a lengthy list of those injured when exposed to its potentially fatal fibers. In the United States and elsewhere, the asbestos industry mushroomed between World War II and the 1970s, then subsided when its health dangers became widely known. That doesn't mean innocent persons don't continue to be exposed to deadly asbestos fibers and, as a result, suffer mesothelioma lung cancer. Asbestos still exists and is still used, and even where discontinued, its exposure already may have done severe damage to victims' health.

Asbestos, in fact, has been used for centuries, dating back to ancient times. A natural mineral, asbestos offers heat-resistant properties and insulation capabilities which have made it valuable in many applications.

Named for the Greek word for "inextinguishable," asbestos was used as a fire-retardant as early as the first century A.D. Yet even then its negative effects were acknowledged, with some Greeks making note of sickness in the chest or lungs of slaves who mined the material.

Worldwide asbestos use threatens millions

That didn't stop asbestos from being used elsewhere in the world ever since, often for its resistance to heat and its durability as a building material. Yet it also has been used in clothing, textiles and even cosmetics. During all this, asbestos exposure continued and its dangers were known, yet often disregarded.

Some of asbestos' emphases changed during the Industrial Revolution, when asbestos became celebrated as a "miracle" substance for buildings and machines. In the late 19th Century, many asbestos mines opened in order to funnel the material to factories and industries for various uses.

The burgeoning steam railroad industry embraced asbestos as a means to insulate and line the energy-producing machinery which fueled its trains. The shipping industry similarly used asbestos as insulation for boilers and other greatly heated sources of energy. In fact, shipyards became a source for millions of people to be exposed to asbestos, which is why many asbestos mesothelioma injury cases come from those who have been employed in the shipping business or have served on ships in the military.

Asbestos also became common in elevators as American buildings began reaching for the clouds, and it also was used often -- again, for insulation -- in automobiles. But the greatest and most widespread use of asbestos came in the building industry, where its insulating properties made it a common feature of many homes and other structures.

Even the contents of homes became seeded with asbestos, from coffee pots to toasters to fertilizers.

Asbestos applications drop, but its threat remains

Asbestos quickly fell out of favor in the 1970s, despite evidence of its risks and dangers that had been around long before. Indeed, the dangers of asbestos exposure have been noted for centuries. When the Environmental Protection Agency finally and belatedly issued warnings, asbestos was abandoned by many who'd embraced it for so long. Even so, the damage was done, and today many suffer from asbestos exposure which they may have endured years -- or even decades -- ago.

If you or a relative has suffered from such asbestos exposure and has thereby fallen victim to mesothelioma or some other lung cancer, the financial burden of your setbacks must be borne by those who are responsible. This can include the owners of buildings or ships where asbestos has been used, and often involves asbestos exposure inflicted on military veterans during their years of service. Those responsible also can include the employers or supervisors of those who were asked to work around asbestos.

Alert an asbestos lawyer with the Goldwater Law Firm today, and secure your financial compensation for your asbestos injury losses, including lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. You may be entitled to a large cash award for your asbestos injury, which can be gained via an asbestos lawyer or personal injury attorney from Attorney Robert Goldwater.