Once upon a time, the median age of those diagnosed with an asbestos-induced illness such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis was 70. Today that age has dropped to 51, but diagnoses of people in their late 20s and 30s are not unheard of.
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And age is not the only change being seen in asbestos patient profiles. More and more women are now being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases and currently comprise, according to some estimates, as much as 50 percent of asbestos patients.
Although occupational exposure was once the predominant cause of asbestos-related diseases, environmental exposures are on the rise. In fact, some evidence suggests that environmental exposures may be the cause of a large portion of asbestos-induced illness in younger populations.
As patient profiles change, it becomes apparent that no one is immune to exposure and that prevention is key to saving lives. Sadly, some studies estimate that asbestos related diseases will claim approximately 30 lives a day in the U.S. over the next decade.
To learn more about these and other findings recently released by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, click here.
