History of asbestosis, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses

People began reporting health problems related to asbestos as early as 1900. Since mesothelioma and asbestosis can take anywhere from 20 to 40 years after exposure to develop, thousands of individuals still develop mesothelioma each year.

Because the production of materials using asbestos increased every year until the late 70's, when it was banned by the U.S. government, the health effects may not be fully known for decades. Hundreds of thousands of workers and their families have been exposed to harmful levels of asbestos contamination.

Despite the ban, people continue to be exposed to asbestos even today. Asbestos can still be found in many places, including construction areas and mines, as well as in the insulation of existing buildings and in automotive brakes. As many as 8 million Americans work in industries where they might be at risk. Many U.S. Navy vessels contain significant amounts of asbestos that may have resulted in exposure for sailors, especially vietnam era veterans.

In addition, a small percentage of schools (10-15%, or about 110,000) in America are believed to still contain asbestos. A strong push by public health officials drove most school districts to "abate" the asbestos in the schools to eliminate the risk of exposure that could lead to mesothelioma.