One of the common defenses manufacturers used during the early days of litigation over mesothelioma was that mesothelioma was caused by smoking. This defense was intended to divert responsibility for the illness on the victims. However, research has shown that smoking is not a cause for mesothelioma.
The argument seems rational, once it was definitively established that smoking can increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), smoking is the number one risk factor for people developing lung cancer. CDC statistics show that 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and 80% of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking. Mesothelioma is cancer that shows up near the lungs. Specifically, it appears in the pleural membrane around the lungs.
However, smoking does not cause mesothelioma. In fact, there is really only one cause for pleural mesothelioma: asbestos. Mesothelioma is not the only condition caused by asbestos, which can also cause asbestosis and several types of lung cancer.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is not really a question of whether you were exposed to asbestos, but, rather, when you were exposed.
The mesothelioma lawyers at The Law Offices of Matthew E. Kiely have experience helping people to research their work histories to identify their asbestos exposure. We can help you, and help you receive compensation for your illness. Pleasecontact us today for a free initial consultation.
