There are numerous ways for lung cancer to happen. The most common is smoking, which the public has long known to be dangerous. But other causes of lung cancer do not receive the notoriety of smoking, and therefore are far less talked about. Two of those causes are breathing radon gas and asbestos.
These naturally occurring substances are more prevalent than you may realize, and breathing them can ultimately cause lung cancer and the symptoms that come with the disease.
The Symptoms of Lung Cancer
There are several signs and symptoms that may indicate you have developed lung cancer. Some of them are:
- Coughing up blood
- Shortness of breath
- A persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Persistent headaches
- Hoarseness
- Bone pain
If you are experiencing or have experienced any of these symptoms, it is important that you seek medical advice. Remember that you can develop lung cancer even if you have never smoked.
Breathing Harmful Chemicals Can Cause Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers
Nothing causes more lung cancer deaths than smoking. In some cases, other causes of lung cancer may be overlooked. Two of the leading causes of lung cancer in non-smokers have been linked to radon gas and asbestos.
Radon Gas: A Naturally Occurring Cancer Causer
Radon gas is the result of uranium breaking down in soil, rock, or water, and it can become carcinogenic when inhaled in large quantities. As many as 21,000 people die each year from lung cancer caused by breathing radon gas. Since radon gas is odorless you may be exposed without even knowing it.
There are certain parties who are responsible for testing for radon gas at regular intervals and removing the gas if it is present at dangerous levels. Some of the people that might fail to conduct such tests, and in doing so may expose you to radon gas, include:
- Employers
- Building managers
- Landlords
- Municipalities
Radon gas tends to build up in well-sealed structures with poor ventilation. If you are a non-smoker there is a chance that radon gas is the cause of your lung cancer. If you believe that you may have been exposed, consider the places and times in your life where the likelihood existed.
Asbestos Is Another Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers
Many Americans will remember when it was revealed that asbestos causes lung cancer. The Clean Air Act (CAA) outlawed asbestos in its spray form, and those who are aware of the dangers may assume that asbestos has been completely outlawed. It has not.
The failure to completely ban asbestos in America, as many other nations have, may be shocking to some considering the links to asbestos and serious lung diseases including cancer. The three primary health conditions associated with breathing asbestos fibers are:
- Mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer for which the only known cause is breathing asbestos.
- Forms of lung cancer aside from mesothelioma.
- Asbestosis.
Despite the well-established dangers, millions of homes in America contain some level of asbestos. Some of the common areas in a structure where asbestos may be found include:
- Certain roofing materials, including some shingles.
- Around pipes, which are often surrounded by insulation.
- In certain textured paints.
- In insulation, which may be in walls, attics, and around heat-emitting devices.
Some of the groups at the greatest risk of breathing asbestos fibers are:
- Those who work near insulation, such as air conditioner repairmen and pest control specialists.
- Construction workers.
- Pipe fitters.
- Demolition crews.
If asbestos is improperly installed then its fibers can release into the air, creating a risk of lung cancer for anyone who enters that structure. If you are a non-smoker who has developed lung cancer then breathing asbestos may be the cause.
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If You Are a Non-Smoker Who Has Developed Lung Cancer, Call a Lawyer
It is the job of a lawyer to help you pursue any damages you may be entitled to. They can do this by:
- Meeting with you in person or over the phone to document your account of how exposure most likely occurred.
- Helping you identify the liable party in your case.
- Swiftly initiating legal action with relevant statutes of limitation in mind.
- Collecting any available evidence of negligence.
- Handling all legal responsibilities necessary to bring your case to a judgement or settlement.
- Protecting your rights throughout the legal process.
Each case is unique, but there is precedent for compensation that you could receive in an asbestos or radon exposure case. Awards may cover medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and the circumstances of your case could entitle you to further damages.
Call Our Team Today
Our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can discuss the details of your case for free. We do not shy away from tough cases. Our clients pay nothing up front and nothing out of pocket. We collect a fee only if we win.
Call our team today at (800) 794-0444 for a free consultation.
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