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Mesothelioma in US States
Florida Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks
Exposure to asbestos has proven to result in a wide range of health conditions, including mesothelioma in Florida. Over 40 locations in Florida have been identified as ones where workers were exposed to asbestos particles. This rare form of deadly cancer attacks the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen, is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos.
Florida Asbestos Exposure Risk
Records indicate at least 1,188 shipments of asbestos had made its way through a variety of domestic and industrial products, from Libby, Montana to five locations throughout the state: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Pompano Beach, and Boca Raton. With California taking the lead, Florida holds the number two spot for asbestos-related deaths in the United States. At least 3,025 died from asbestosis or mesothelioma cancer between 1979 and 2001 in the Sunshine State.
Are you at Risk for Mesothelioma in Florida?
Some jobsites in Florida are widely known to be occupational sources of asbestos exposure. These include asbestos mines, processing plants, manufacturing plants and power plants, where asbestos products are produced and have a history of asbestos exposure. If you think you've been exposed to asbestos on the job and have developed mesothelioma you should talk to a mesothelioma doctor as soon as possible.
Who is at Risk for Mesothelioma?
Did you handle asbestos or come into contact with asbestos on your job? Are you a family member of someone who worked with asbestos? If so, you may be at risk for developing mesothelioma. The risk of developing mesothelioma also increased with age and smoking.
What are the Signs of Mesothelioma?
Symptoms may not appear until 20+ years from the initial exposure to asbestos. If you think you have been exposed to asbestos in the past and have developed these signs, please seek diagnosis and treatment right away. The signs of this disease may include the following:
- Persistent dry Cough
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty sleeping
- Pain in the chest and abdominal regions
- Progressive loss of appetite and weight loss
- Pleural effusion (fluid in the chest cavity)
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in Florida Today
Due to many retirees living in the state, a large percentage of residents suffering from asbestos-related diseases, including malignant mesothelioma, and the number has increased over the years in Florida. Most of these retirees worked during a time when asbestos exposure was common and the dangers weren't understood or strictly enforced. Today, years later the effects of asbestos exposure are finally beginning to present itself, putting the Sunshine State at second place for asbestos-related deaths in the United States.
