May 4th, 2007

According to a leading asbestos organization the average age of asbestos exposure victims is actually younger than was originally thought, with the average age being identified at fifty-one. The findings were published by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Findings show that many people now being diagnosed are aged under forty, and many have not even worked with asbestos but have suffered environmental exposure.

Dr. Robert N. Taub, Milstein Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director of the Columbia University Mesothelioma Center in New York City stated: "The average age of our peritoneal mesothelioma patients is 51.7. And less than fifty percent had immediately recognizable asbestos exposure."

Richard Lemen, ADAO Science Advisory Board Co-Chair, stated: "Asbestos-related diseases, like many occupationally and environmentally induced diseases, are routinely underreported. It is imperative for clinicians and health care providers to thoroughly investigate and accurately report the diagnosis of disease, as well as record, not only the immediate cause of death, but also significant underlying conditions."

He added: "Only through better reporting will we ever understand the true impact of asbestos-related health conditions or the affect prevention has played in controlling these highly preventative diseases."