When you examine those who are suffering from asbestos-related mesothelioma, you find that many of them are elderly or at least older individuals. This can lead you to believe that more advanced age means you face greater risks. But is this actually true?
A delay
The reality is that asbestos is dangerous for everyone, especially when exposure happens on a regular basis. It’s a substance that everyone needs to take seriously, no matter how young and healthy they are. You cannot be immune to it.
The true reason that older people struggle with these issues more often is that there is a delay in the onset of a serious disease like mesothelioma. In some cases, people do not actually develop the disease for decades after they’re exposed. This delay means that more elderly people have the disease, though it says nothing of when they were exposed.
For instance, a worker could get a job in an older factory that was built using asbestos, where they are exposed to dangerous air particles every day. They could work there for 20 years, from age 30 to age 50. They may then move on from that career and only develop mesothelioma in their 60s or 70s. That exposure that they got nearly 30 years earlier still plays a role.
That’s not to say that young people can’t get it. It does happen. It’s just less common thanks to the delay.
A legal case
If you’re suffering from asbestos-related diseases, you may have a legal case. You must know what steps to take when facing this dangerous and potentially fatal disease.