Death from asbestos is unfortunately a very common occurrence. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used extensively in building construction and in many industrial products from the mid-1940s until the late-1970s. In the United States, asbestos is still found in some older buildings and in products that have been imported from other countries.
Asbestos has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions, including mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and other organs. Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, and it typically takes decades after exposure for symptoms to appear.
In the United States, an estimated 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. However, due to the long latency period of the disease, many people are not diagnosed until after their death. As a result, the true number of deaths from asbestos is likely much higher.
On a global scale, estimates suggest that asbestos-related deaths could reach as high as 200,000 per year. This figure includes not only mesothelioma, but also other asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis and lung cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that asbestos is a “major public health concern” and that “an end to the use of all types of asbestos is essential in order to eliminate asbestos-related diseases.”
In conclusion, death from asbestos is unfortunately a very common occurrence, with estimates suggesting that it could be responsible for as many as 200,000 deaths each year. In order to reduce this number, it is important that we take steps to reduce and eventually eliminate asbestos-related exposures.
