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03 December 2009 / Richard Scorer
Issue: 7396 / Categories: Features , Personal injury
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Silent killer

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Pleural plaques—where now? asks Richard Scorer

Asbestos, which was used extensively in industry in the 19th and 20th centuries, is made up of microscopic fibres which can be inhaled into a person’s lung. Such fibres can cause lung disease, which can often be fatal or seriously disabling.

Asbestos disease often has a long latency period, sometimes as long as 50 years. This means that the number of victims is continuing to rise even though the actual use of asbestos in industry has drastically declined.

There are several common types of asbestos related conditions. Pleural plaques are one such condition and have figured prominently in personal injury litigation. Pleural plaques are a type of scarring on the lung. They can sometimes be a precursor to fatal asbestos related illnesses, for example mesothelioma. However, pleural plaques are distinctive from other types of asbestos related conditions because in most cases they are symptom free.

The person afflicted by pleural plaques will not experience any physical pain or suffering and in many cases will never become ill at all.

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