Carcinogenic means cancer-causing.
Materials are known as carcinogenic because they provoke changes in cells that multiply continuously. This term is known as “malignancy.”
In the case of asbestos, the cause is thought to be a chronic inflammatory state.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral. This means it is made of millions and millions of small, microscopic fibers that are extremely light and can easily become airborne.
When a person works or lives in an asbestos-contaminated area, they frequently breathe or swallow uncountable numbers of these small, rigid fibers.
They can end up deep in the lungs, lodged into the lining of the stomach and intestines. Less commonly, they can also spread to other parts of the body.
Once asbestos fibers are embedded in body tissues, they can remain in place for the remainder of your life.
During this time, the lungs are in constant motion as you breathe. Your intestines are constantly contracting and relaxing. All the while, the body’s normal movements and functions persist.
It is believed that asbestos fibers, rubbing against healthy cells and tissues for years, gradually produce chronic inflammation.
Over time, this can lead to the formation of small, localized tumors through the lining of organs. This could include the lungs, the abdominal cavity, and even the brain.
This is a condition called mesothelioma, and it is a very dangerous form of cancer whose only known cause is exposure to asbestos.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any asbestos-related disease in New Orleans, you may have a right to collect to compensation under product liability and negligence laws.
Call The Gertler Law Firm today at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation with an experienced New Orleans mesothelioma and asbestos injury.
