Metal mesh blankets are commonly used in welding and other building-related industries. Unfortunately, this product, designed to protect the person using it, once was the cause of a serious kind of cancer called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, and the only way to contract it is exposure to a natural substance called asbestos. Metal mesh blankets are just one of the many, many products that contains asbestos.

Asbestos is found naturally in the earth in six forms. It was (and still is in some cases) mined in a number of countries, with three kinds of asbestos being most common. Asbestos is a very fibrous material, and also very strong, durable, flexible, heat-resistant, lightweight, and versatile. Therefore, the material is perfect for metal mesh blankets and other products that have to resist fire. On top of that, asbestos is extremely cheap, because mining it is inexpensive.

However, asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that attacks the lungs, heart, or stomach cavity. Many people who have mesothelioma don't know it until it is to late to treat the mesothelioma. This happens because mesothelioma has no symptoms until the tumors it causes start to disrupt the systems in the body. Mesothelioma takes many years to develop, so if you worked around metal mesh blankets twenty or thirty years ago, you could still be at risk for developing mesothelioma today.

The mesothelioma starts when the asbestos enters the body. As you use a metal mesh blanket, the asbestos fibers fill the air around you, which causes you to breathe them in or swallow them. You may not even know that you're around asbestos, although some people notice breathing problems right away or experience itchiness in the throat. The mesothelioma develops when the asbestos fibers embed in the tissues surrounding the organs. Over time, the body attacks the asbestos, resulting in scar tissue build-up. The cells may mutate into cancerous cells, and as the mesothelioma begins to multiple, it attacks all parts of the body by traveling through the blood stream.

Do you currently own a metal mesh blanket or use one at work? Blankets made after the 1980s are safe, as laws prevented the use of asbestos at this time because mesothelioma was on the rise. However, if you ever used a metal mesh blanket that was made before the 1980s, you're at risk and should see a doctor right away.

Sadly, most companies knew about mesothelioma and other dangers related to asbestos since about the 1930s. They continued to use asbestos in there products because it was the cheapest material available. Because they conspired to keep mesothelioma a secret, you have legal rights if you were unknowingly exposed to asbestos. Thousands of people have died due to the negligence of employers and manufacturers, so talking to a mesothelioma lawyer about your experience with asbestos is crucial to help in bringing these companies to justice.

Remember, being exposed to asbestos in a metal mesh blanket or other consumer product, even just once and even twenty years ago, can cause mesothelioma in you. If you're at risk, have a doctor monitor your health so that your can identity mesothelioma early if it does develop. Catching mesothelioma and other medical problems related to mesothelioma early is key to treating it successfully.

Related News

Long Wait for Asbestos Trust Claimants
2008-07-08 15:55:49
Many companies, when faced with massive numbers of asbestos-related lawsuits, respond by setting up trust funds from which claimants can be awarded compensation for the injuries they sustain after asbestos exposure. For some companies, it is vital for their existence, and is part of their bankruptcy settlements. However, many people must wait up to ...Read More
KDHE Issues Post-Storm Asbestos Warning
2008-07-08 15:54:55
After recent storms the Kansas Department of Health and Environments has issued a general warning to remind residents of storm-damaged areas that asbestos exposure is a possibility which should be guarded against while cleaning up debris. Asbestos was a common component of construction materials up until the 1980s due to its high fire resistance ...Read More
Jury Sides with Defendant after Three-Week Asbestos Trial
2008-07-08 15:53:46
The family of a former Illinois man were disappointed this week after an sbestos lawsuit failed to provide them with the compensation they had hoped for. After a three-week trial, the jury decided in favor of the defendants. The family of Robert C. Scott sued Honeywell International and Pneumo Abex, claiming that Scott had come into contact with ...Read More