Kentucky Mesothelioma Attorney, Facts and Figures

Mesothelioma is a rare but a deadly cancer which is known as a major cause of death in many states of US including Kentucky. Due to its aggressive nature, it is known to spread very quickly and the patients are reported to die within the first year or so after the symptoms appear. However, the symptoms also take a long time to appear and it may take 20-30 years or more for the first symptom to appear.

Asbestos inhalation is the only cause of Mesothelioma. When asbestos particles are inhaled, they settle into the protective lining of the body organs and become cancerous. The main parts of the body where Mesothelioma attacks are the lining of the lungs or pleura and the peritoneum or the lining of the abdominal cavity. The only way to prevent this deadly cancer is prevention from asbestos particles and dust. Some ways of treating Mesothelioma are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation but they do not work all times.

Mesothelioma in Kentucky

Since 1979, 429 people in Kentucky have died from Mesothelioma by 2005. One of the reasons for asbestos presence in Kentucky is the 1,839 shipments (173,777 tons) of vermiculite which was sent to Newport, Louisville, and Lexington, Kentucky from Libby, Montana during 1948 and 1993. Newport received the majority of asbestos.

During exfoliation of this asbestos, large amounts of dust particles were released which were inhaled by the people living and working near the plant. Zonolite Company on 112 North Street, Wilder, Kentucky, has been ranked as the biggest asbestos processing plant.

Below are the figures for the number of deaths, mortality rates (per million population) and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in Kentucky in 1999 for residents aged 15 and over.