Being diagnosed with mesothelioma leaves most people blindsided. It’s not just the diagnosis itself but also the lingering question of “how did this happen?”
Unlike many other cancers, the cause of mesothelioma is well known. This disease is almost always linked to exposure to asbestos. Identifying the cause of a mesothelioma diagnosis can be a challenge, especially since the disease can take 20 to 60 years to develop.
If you or a loved one is facing this diagnosis, you will want to find the source of exposure. In many cases, it opens the door to compensation through legal action or asbestos trust funds.
Here’s how to begin that journey.
Understand the Diagnosis and Its Latency
Mesothelioma develops decades after asbestos exposure. The cause likely dates back to jobs or environments from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, or later.
The first step is confirming the diagnosis with your medical team. Once that’s established, you can look backward, sometimes as far as 40 or 50 years, per the Mayo Clinic, to trace possible points of exposure.
Look at Work History
The most common source of asbestos exposure is the workplace. Certain jobs had a high exposure risk before safety regulations were in place. If you worked in one of these industries or lived with someone who did, you may have been exposed:
- Power plants and oil refineries
- Shipbuilding and Navy service
- Automotive repair
- HVAC mechanical work
- Construction, especially in the older buildings throughout Philadelphia
- Manufacturing or industrial jobs
- Insulation work
- Electricians and maintenance
Even workers who did not directly handle asbestos were often exposed by being near others who did. A dusty job site, such as a poorly ventilated boiler room, steel mill, or auto repair bays, could have exposed workers to airborne asbestos fibers.
Don’t Overlook Military Service
If you served in the U.S. Navy or worked on military ships at sea or shipyards including the Philadelphia Naval Yard, there’s a strong chance you encountered asbestos. It was used in many ways throughout ships, from the engine and boiler rooms to areas on the deck.
Veterans often do not realize their service could be connected to their illness.
We can help identify your specific exposures to asbestos.
Consider Secondary Exposure
Even if you have never worked with asbestos, someone in your household may have encountered it. Many mesothelioma patients were exposed as children or spouses of workers. Workers unknowingly brought asbestos fibers home on their clothes, shoes, or tools.
You may want to think back to your home life growing up or your early adult years:
- Did a family member work in construction, shipyards, or a factory?
- Did you do their laundry or clean up after them?
Secondary exposure like this is well-documented and just as dangerous.
Look at Your Living Environment
Your home or neighborhood may have been the source of exposure, especially if you lived near a factory, mine, or shipyard where asbestos was used. Homes and buildings constructed before the 1980s often contained asbestos in attic insulation, ceiling tiles, flooring, drywall compounds, and roofing materials. Also anyone whose hobby involved asbestos, such as yard based work, auto work, may have been exposed.
Were you ever involved in home renovations? Any do-it-yourself projects in older homes may have disturbed asbestos materials and released dangerous fibers into the air without anyone realizing it at the time.
Possible Product Exposure
Some consumer products, like talcum powders, foot powders and make up, have been linked to asbestos exposure.
These cases are less common. However, they happen, especially in people who have used these products regularly for years.
Build a Record with Help
Once you have gathered some ideas about where exposure may have occurred, you may be able to take legal action. Mesothelioma law firms, like our team at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich and Ryan, can help families build detailed exposure histories to access compensation for their exposure.
Understanding where and how the asbestos exposure happened can provide more than answers. It can lead to action. Identifying the source allows you to:
- Pursue compensation from liable companies
- File claims with asbestos trust funds
- Help protect others by documenting exposure sites
For many families, knowing the “why” behind a mesothelioma diagnosis brings a sense of closure and, often, justice. When you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the question is not “was I exposed” but “how?”
With the right help, it may be possible to trace the exposure that caused it, even if it happened decades ago. Whether that came from a job, military service, home, or a loved one’s work clothes, every piece of your story matters.
If you’ve been affected by mesothelioma exposure in Philly or the surrounding areas, reach out to Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan to learn more about your options.