"CDC: No end in sight for asbestos deaths"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a tremendous rise in the number of deaths related to asbestos exposure from the late 1960s to present day - and they only expect death tolls to rise.

Statistics show that 77 people died from asbestos in 1968. Nearly 1,500 people died from the same cause in 2000. The CDC reached these numbers after reviewing death certificates of nearly 125,000 people afflicted with lung conditions linked to inhaling dust or fibers from minerals such as coal or asbestos.

Because it takes decades for asbestos-related illnesses to form, people who were exposed to the substance as many as 40 years ago may not get sick for at least another decade, indicating a possibility that the number of asbestos-related deaths may increase in future years.

Asbestos was widely used for insulation and fireproofing in buildings following World War II through the late 1970s. While government regulations in the 1980s curbed usage in buildings, asbestos is still found in more than 3,000 products, including brake linings, engine gaskets and roof coatings and still exists in insulation in older buildings.

People exposed to asbestos can develop asbestosis, which occurs when asbestos fibers enter and scar the lungs. It then becomes difficult for the lungs to take in air or transfer oxygen to the blood, which leads to lung infections or heart or respiratory failure. There is no treatment or cure for asbestosis.