There are three criteria. The diagnosis must be based upon an examination of tissue in accordance with well-accepted techniques of pathology. The diagnosis must be made by either two qualified pathologists or one pathologist who is a member of the Mesothelioma Reference Panel. The latency period, that is, the time between the first exposure to asbestos and manifestation of the mesothelioma, must be at least ten years 3. Lung Cancer .
Lung cancer has a number of known causes, with cigarette smoking the most common cause.
The purpose of the lung cancer criteria is to ensure that a potential claimant's lung cancer may be related to asbestos, and not exclusively to smoking or some other factor. The criteria do this by requiring, in addition to a diagnosis of lung cancer, some medical evidence of asbestos exposure that is sufficient to reasonably attribute the claimant's cancer, at least in part, to asbestos exposure. There are several ways that a claimant may demonstrate the required amount of asbestos exposure. A claimant may present pathological or clinical evidence of asbestosis or evidence of bilateral pleural thickening with impairment. He may also present evidence of bilateral pleural plaques or bilateral pleural thickening together with evidence of a minimum period of employment in occupations likely to result in exposure to asbestos.