The number of asbestos deaths in the United States continues to rise each year, and this is a trend that is going to continue. During the mid part of the 1930's through to the early part of the 1980's asbestos was one of the most commonly used materials in many different types of industries. Manufacturing, building, construction, shipyards, refineries and other types of production industries all used asbestos in various forms with little attempt to protect workers from the very harmful airborne form of the material. Most buildings constructed at these times used asbestos in insulation and fireproofing materials, exposing employees and individuals working and living in the building to the microscopic airborne fibers. Now, as these people age, the effects of long and short term asbestos exposure are coming to the forefront. Since not all forms of cancer from asbestos exposure are fast acting, this trend in rapidly rising numbers of deaths directly related to asbestos exposure will continue to rise and individuals that may have been exposed have few options to prevent or minimize their chances of developing cancer.