Mesothelioma In California - Facts, Figures And Lawyers
California is one of the five states in the country which have the highest incidence of mesothelioma, with the highest number of asbestos infection rates found in Los Angeles. According to experts it is estimated that about 2,500 Americans die from mesothelioma each year, with the number of diagnosed cases continuing to increase in the US for another 10 to 20 years. These figures are actually quite scary considering the fact that mesothelioma is a rather uncommon type of cancer.
Mesothelioma arises in the mesothelium which is a thin membrane that lines the chest and abdominal cavities. This membrane also covers and protects most of the body's internal organs as well. The mesothelium of the lungs is known as the pleura, while the mesothelium of the abdomen cavity is called the peritoneum. When these linings become cancerous they cause breathing difficulties, abdominal swelling and nausea.
One of the worst things about this disease is its long latency period which can last anywhere between 25 to 50 years, after which this cancer spreads swiftly through the body. The only means of treat are chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, however then to there is no guarantee that you will be fine. The reason most people die from mesothelioma is because this disease normally shows up during old age when most people's immune systems are at their weakest.
The main and only cause of mesothelioma is lengthy asbestos exposure. People working in shipbuilding, dockyards, asbestos mining and milling companies, construction, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos based products and in brake repair shops are likely to have exposed to asbestos, as have demolition workers, drywall removers, and firefighters. Families of these asbestos workers are also at risk due to the fact that may inhale asbestos fibers brought into your home on shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of workers. People who live or work near asbestos-related operations are also at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma in California
Below are the figures for the number of deaths, mortality rates (per million population), and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in California State in the year 1999, in residents age 15 and over.
State : california
No of deaths: 259
Ranks : 1
Crude Mortality -Rate : 10.12 -Rank : 33
Age-Adjusted Mortality -Rate : 11.42 -Rank : 28
VYLL to life Expectancy -Total : 3,670 -Rank : 1 -VYLL/death : 14.2 Rank : 20
According to experts the reason why mesothelioma cases in California are so high are due to the fact that there is an immense amount of naturally occurring asbestos deposits found in the state. Recent research conducted by UC Davis (University of California at Davis) directly links deposits of naturally occurring asbestos to cases of mesothelioma in California. Researchers also determined that those individuals living closer or working near to these naturally occurring asbestos deposits have a higher probability of developing mesothelioma. The largest deposits of naturally occurring asbestos are found throughout the Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and the Klamath Mountains in Northern and Central California, where development is set to triple population in the area in the next 20 years or so. According to another study conducted by the Environmental Working Group and based upon federal data between the years of 1979 and 2001 the number of asbestos related deaths in California was estimated at around 5,800.
If you or your loved ones have mesothelioma, it is important that you file a criminal negligence suit against your employers if they are responsible for your prolonged asbestos exposure. A person with mesothelioma in California can usually have their case brought to trial within 6 -9 months of the date your case is filed. This happens because California courts give prioritized treatment to people who are extremely ill during their trial.