Asbestos was a popular insulation material for decades due to its light weight and ability to resist heat transfer. Nevertheless, even in antiquity, writers noted its disease-causing properties.
The unregulated growth of the Industrial Revolution led to a need for more and more asbestos to insulate larger and larger structures, and construction companies were more than willing to oblige, condemning millions to suffer as a result. It was not until the 1970s and 1980s that the dangers of asbestos became well known – but even now, the suffering has not ended. From 1999 to 2010, nearly 30,000 Americans died of mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos.
From November 15 to 19 in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) presented at the American Public Health Association’s 142nd Annual Meeting and Expo. The Expo’s purpose is to present the newest research in various fields to invigorate the public health profession as a whole.
Mark Catlin, the Occupational Health and Safety Director with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), gave an in-depth lecture about asbestos history and its use in construction, while highlighting all of the men and women who are still at risk for exposure. He touched on the status of the movement to ban asbestos globally, noting that over 50 countries have done so.
The United States is not one of them – they still import over 1,000 tons of this toxic mineral every year. Calling asbestos one of humanity’s greatest manmade disasters, he advocated the elimination of asbestos-related illnesses through education, legislation and progress.
My Spouse Was Recently Diagnosed with a Mesothelioma Prognosis Due to Asbestos in His or Her Work Environment. What Should I Do?
Asbestos is a dangerous material and can cause several serious complications, or even death. If your spouse was exposed in the workplace, there is a real possibility that you, too, have been exposed to asbestos fibers from their clothing. You should seek emergency medical care and contact an attorney. Harrell & Nowak have spent their lives leading asbestos victims and their families to justice, and would be happy to help you.
To learn more about the dangers of asbestos exposure or talk to an asbestos lawyer about your situation, give us a call todayto schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.