What Is Asbestos Poisoning?

Asbestos poisoning can refer to many illnesses that are caused by exposure to asbestos, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and more.

Asbestos is a mineral that was used in up to 5,000 products, including construction materials, car parts, textiles, and even popular household goods like makeup and talcum powder.

For much of the 20th century, many companies that made or sold asbestos-containing products concealed the health risks from workers and the public, which put millions in danger of asbestos poisoning.

As a national asbestos law firm with over 45 years of experience, Sokolove Law has helped over 9,300 asbestos poisoning victims and their families secure compensation and hold the companies responsible for their illnesses accountable.

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What Are the First Signs of Asbestos Poisoning?

Asbestos poisoning may cause cancer and other diseases that impact the lungs and chest, leading to symptoms like difficulty breathing. Early asbestos poisoning signs​ are often vague and similar to those of common health problems like the flu.

It can take upwards of 20-50 years for the first asbestos poisoning symptoms to appear. As a result, many may not realize their symptoms are related to asbestos.

Some common early symptoms of asbestos poisoning may include:

• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Persistent cough
• Trouble breathing
• Weight loss

However, symptoms of asbestos poisoning may vary since it can cause several different illnesses.

If you’re experiencing any of these early asbestos poisoning signs and symptoms, talk with your doctor and mention your potential exposure history. They can conduct diagnostic tests to determine if you may have an asbestos-related disease.

End-Stage Asbestos Poisoning Symptoms

Mesothelioma and other illnesses caused by asbestos poisoning often don’t cause significant symptoms until they’ve progressed, according to Penn Medicine.

For that reason, many patients are only diagnosed after their symptoms worsen. Sadly, by that point, treatment options may be limited.

Advanced asbestos poisoning symptoms​ include: 

• Cachexia (muscle wasting) and weakness
• Confusion
• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty swallowing
• Mood changes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Night sweats
• Noticeable weight loss
• Recurring fluid buildup in the lungs or abdomen
• Serious chest or abdominal pain
• Severe fatigue

Asbestos poisoning symptoms near death may include worsening pain, bowel or respiratory complications, trouble eating or drinking, and sleeping for long periods of time.

How Do You Get Asbestos Poisoning?

Asbestos poisoning occurs when toxic fibers are released into the air when cutting, drilling, sanding, or even just handling, using, or moving asbestos-containing materials. Once airborne, the microscopic asbestos fibers can be inhaled, posing a major health risk to anyone nearby.

Those with the greatest chances of getting sick worked with asbestos-containing materials on a regular basis. Worksites were often clouded with contaminated dust.

Families of these workers were also in danger due to secondhand asbestos exposure. This occurred when employees left job sites with asbestos fibers on their clothing or hair. When they came home, the fibers could be released into the air again, endangering loved ones.

What Asbestos Poisoning Does to the Body

Once breathed in or swallowed, asbestos fibers can enter the lungs, digestive system, and other areas of the body. However, the body can’t break them down. Instead, the fibers remain and can cause damage over time.

“Whenever these fibers migrate, they leave a trail of damaged or compromised cells behind.”
– Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

Over the course of decades, the irritation caused by the asbestos fibers may lead to the development of life-threatening diseases.

Asbestos poisoning cancers and diseases include:

• Asbestosis: This noncancerous disease can cause severe scarring in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. As scarring continues to build up, the lungs stiffen, which can be fatal.
• Lung cancer: Asbestos is responsible for more than 34,000 lung cancer deaths each year, according to the International Commission of Occupational Health.
• Mesothelioma: Approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, with one-third of cases involving U.S. veterans.
• Other asbestos-related cancers: Exposure to asbestos may lead to an increased risk of other cancers, including ovarian cancer, throat cancer, and more.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, Sokolove Law may be able to help your family access financial compensation for treatment. Contact us now to get started.

How Long Does Asbestos Poisoning Take?

Asbestos poisoning may not cause any immediate signs or symptoms. Rather, there’s a long latency period from the time of exposure to when an illness develops.

It takes 20-50 years after asbestos exposure occurs for the first symptoms of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases to appear.

As a result, you’re still at risk of asbestos poisoning side effects even if you or a family member came into contact with this harmful mineral long ago.

Who Is at Risk of Asbestos Poisoning?

Prior to the early 1980s, a wide range of industries used asbestos-containing products for fireproofing, insulation, and durability. Those at the highest risk of asbestos poisoning worked at jobs that used or encountered these asbestos-containing materials on an everyday basis.

Some of these high-risk asbestos occupations include:

• Aircraft mechanics
• Auto mechanics
• Boilermakers
• Carpenters
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Firefighters
• Insulators
• Military veterans
• Painters
• Plumbers
• Power plant workers
• Shipyard workers
• Union workers
• U.S. Navy veterans

Even if they retired years ago, many of these workers may still be at risk of developing diseases linked to asbestos poisoning due to the long latency period. Families of these workers are also in danger of the side effects of asbestos poisoning​ due to secondary exposure.

Talcum Powder Asbestos Poisoning

Consumer products like makeup and talcum powder may have been contaminated with asbestos fibers, poisoning those who used them. Talc is found naturally in mineral deposits alongside asbestos, and during mining activities, the two could cross-contaminate.

Major corporations like Johnson & Johnson routinely found asbestos fibers in talc samples for decades, but hid the facts and covered up test results to keep profits high.

Now, nearly 100,000 women have come forward, alleging they developed serious illnesses like mesothelioma and ovarian cancer from using poisoned talc products. Billions have been awarded in talcum powder asbestos verdicts.

Treatment for Asbestos Poisoning

Many asbestos poisoning victims may be able to improve their quality of life and live longer by seeking treatment. Depending on the patient’s diagnosis, overall health, and more, asbestos poisoning treatment options will vary.

For noncancerous conditions like asbestosis, treatment may include:

• Oxygen provided through a portable tank
• Pulmonary rehabilitation to strengthen the lungs
• Lung transplant surgery in severe cases

Treatments for asbestos-related cancers like mesothelioma center on shrinking or removing tumors. Common mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, immunotherapy, or a combination of them could all help.

Sokolove Law may be able to help families secure compensation to cover the medical costs associated with asbestos poisoning. Call (800) 647-3434 now to get started.

Can Asbestos Poisoning Be Cured?

There’s no way to cure asbestos poisoning or many of the diseases it causes. However, treatment for asbestos poisoning could improve patients’ life expectancies.

In some cases, mesothelioma patients have responded very well to options like surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, allowing them to become long-term survivors — even in advanced cases.

"There’s a way for people to be long-term survivors. Often, our goal is to get you to the next treatment. Who knows what that's going to be in 2 years? But if we can do stuff now that will get you 2 years, a lot is developing in the next 2 years to get you to your next treatment."
– Dr. Adam Bograd, Mesothelioma Doctor at Swedish Cancer Institute

Asbestos Poisoning Claims for Compensation

Treating diseases caused by asbestos poisoning can be expensive, costing over $400,000 a year on average for mesothelioma. This can financially devastate families, who could never have prepared for the diagnosis or the unanticipated costs.

Fortunately, those impacted by asbestos poisoning may be able to recover compensation from multiple sources.

Types of asbestos poisoning claims include:

• Asbestos poisoning lawsuits: Families may be able to hold the companies responsible for their asbestos exposure accountable by taking legal action. Asbestos poisoning average payouts for mesothelioma lawsuits average $1 Million or more.
• Asbestos trust funds: Asbestos-related companies were forced to create trusts to pay victims harmed by their dangerous products. There is still an estimated $30 Billion available in trusts today.
• VA benefits: Veterans may be eligible for monthly compensation and health care benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) if they developed asbestos-related diseases from their time in the service.

Asbestos poisoning compensation from these options can help your family pay for treatment, recoup lost wages if you can’t work, and find peace of mind during this difficult time.

Our Past Asbestos Poisoning Settlements & Verdicts

At Sokolove Law, we’ve helped more than 9,300 families harmed by asbestos poisoning. More than 99% of the mesothelioma lawsuits we handle settle out of court, allowing clients to get money faster and with less hassle.

The average asbestos poisoning settlements for mesothelioma fall between $1 Million and $1.4 Million. However, many of our past clients have received even more.

Notable asbestos verdicts and settlements we’ve secured include: 

• $40 Million for a U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma
• $1.6 Million to a plumber and his wife who both had lung cancer
• $7 Million for a welder with mesothelioma
• $9.6 Million to a construction worker with mesothelioma
• $1 Million for an electrician with lung cancer
• $7.6 Million to an asbestosis patient who required a lung transplant
• $11.26 Million for a mesothelioma patient

Many families start receiving compensation in as few as 90 days, with more payouts coming over the next year or more.

Sokolove Law: Fighting for Asbestos Poisoning Victims Nationwide

No family should have to deal with the financial strain and medical uncertainty of asbestos poisoning alone. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, our asbestos exposure lawyers are here to help.

For over 45 years, Sokolove Law has been dedicated to fighting for those diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

We’ve recovered over $5.9 Billion for asbestos victims nationwide, allowing them to cover health care costs and protect their loved ones’ futures.

Get a free legal case review to find out if you qualify. Our team can file asbestos poisoning claims on your behalf to seek compensation from the corporations responsible.