We've seen the commercials or may know of someone who suffers from mesothelioma. The CDC is now saying asbestos cancer is killing Mainer's at a very high rate.

It's been decades since the government has implemented regulations to limit the exposure of asbestos. Grinding, cutting, sanding, and other methods of making the asbestos fibers can be hazardous to your health.

Inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers can cause malignant mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly cancer that develops within the walls of the lungs.

If you look at the fibers under a microscope, you'll see the 'claw-like' features that help them to cling to the tissues in the lungs. The fibers don't break down, so the lungs see it as an intruder and begin to build scar tissue around the fiber which limits lung capacity, over time and, in some cases, has been linked to mesothelioma.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the asbestos cancer is killing Maine residents at the highest rate in the country.

In the Pine Tree State, most people are diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 85, however, the disease can be very difficult to treat and many times is in its advanced stages by the time symptoms appear.

It's been suggested that if you're going to renovate your home or disturb parts of your home that may be older, to have an expert come out and take a look at the area before you begin demolition.

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