September 11, 2014 – It is well-known that prolonged direct exposure to asbestos is a risk factor for developing mesothelioma; however, a new case study suggests that even indirect or minimal exposure to a lesser amount of asbestos for a short time can also increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. In New Delhi, India, Dr. Bharati Singhal and his colleagues at the ESI Model Hospital published their case study of a young woman diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma in the Journal of Clinical Imaging Science.
The patient’s only known exposure to asbestos occurred fifteen years prior to her diagnosis when she was a child. Her father worked in the mines of eastern India, and she was indirectly exposed to asbestos through the contaminated clothes that he wore home from work. What is so alarming in this case is that her limited, secondhand asbestos exposure took place over a total of three short months. The brief period of indirect exposure to asbestos was enough to result in asbestos cancer that also spread to her lungs and liver.
Dr. Singhal speculates that many doctors and patients do not realize the important implications in cases where very brief, limited asbestos exposure has resulted in mesothelioma; therefore, such cases are often unreported. He concludes that short-term exposure to asbestos could also be a serious risk factor for mesothelioma.
If you or a family member has been exposed to even a small amount of asbestos and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to receive compensation from those responsible for putting your health at risk. The dedicated and knowledgeable Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law have been handling mesothelioma cases for four decades and have obtained substantial settlements for clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Our offices are located in Pennsauken, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Contact us online or call us toll free at 877-SHEINLAW (743-4652) to schedule a free consultation.