Many members of the armed forces believe that asbestos is something out of the past and, in many cases, it is.

But, because asbestos resists heat, it is very useful in military applications and was used extensively through the 1970s, especially in the Navy. Engineers used asbestos to line pipes carrying high temperature fluids like steam, electrical fixtures and hull construction.

As asbestos-containing age they become more unstable and more hazardous. Technicians who worked aboard naval vessels or elsewhere in military installations, likely encountered asbestos when these materials were repaired or replaced. As asbestos fibers are disturbed they are easily released into the air where they can be inhaled.

That’s the problem, of course. It can take 15 years –sometimes three decades — for symptoms of asbestos-related diseases to appear and by then it is usually too late to do anything about it.

Not everyone exposed to asbestos becomes ill of course, but those who do develop pulmonary conditions like asbestosis and mesothelioma, a fairly rare but aggressive form of lung cancer. There is no known cure for mesothelioma and patients usually die within 18 months of diagnosis.

If you were in the military and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you do have options. Experienced mesothelioma attorneys have access to all kinds of resources and support information. In addition, they can evaluate your situation for a potential mesothelioma lawsuit to help recover compensation.

According to a recent news report, people living near an abandoned asbestos mine in Colchester, Vermont are at higher risk of developing asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma than the general public.

In the mean time, state health officials warn local residents to stay away from the area to avoid airborne asbestos particles near the mine.

Researchers released a study that showed people who live or lived in towns within 10 miles of the abandoned asbestos mine have a statistically significant increase in the risk of developing lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. for people in these areas. For asbestosis, the risk is 12 times higher for those living in the sample area than for those living outside.

Now, state officials are trying to determine whether waste from the mine was ever used in construction projects or on roads.

The waste rock doesn’t actually contain a high percentage of asbestos, but the rick remains. Asbestos is so toxic, some experts have claimed that as little as one asbestos fiber, when inhaled, could eventually cause the development of pleural mesothelioma.

An Australian newspaper reports that, after undergoing a breakthrough mesothelioma treatment two years ago, a man there is now hale and fit.

One of the reasons for the success, the paper said, is because the man’s mesothelioma was discovered early.

Typically, a diagnosis of mesothelioma, an aggressive but rare form of lung cancer, is a death sentence.

The 54 year-old man received a fairly new early detection test. While a biopsy reported no cancer was present in his lungs, the soluble mesothelin-related peptide that measured raised levels in his body told doctors otherwise.

The father of two had radical surgery to remove his right lung, his pleura, part of his pericardium and part of his diaphragm.

The cancer is linked to asbestos exposure though, in this particular case, researchers found no history of exposure to the deadly carcinogen.