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Since 1989 when the EPA banned the use of asbestos in most products, there’s been a lot of confusion about whether we are safe from asbestos exposure. Some of this confusion stems from the fact that this regulation was overturned in 1991 to reinstate those uses established prior to 1989, although no new uses would be allowed.

The most prevalent asbestos exposure occurs at construction sites, with the most exposure in demolition and renovation projects. Construction workers assigned to the removal of asbestos are most exposed, but others working nearby are also at risk. The U.S. Department of Labor OSHA claims that about 1.3 million people will be exposed to asbestos through their work environments. In addition to demolition and renovation of buildings, industries that still use asbestos include:

Manufacturing:

• Textiles

• Friction products

• Insulation

• Building products

* Siding, roofing, bricks, insulation and other exterior products

• Flooring materials: vinyl tiles and sheet flooring with asbestos backing, and leveling compound

• Ceilings or walls made of acoustic tiles, stippled finishes, plaster, tiles made of asbestos cement

• Insulation for pipes and ducts, boilers, incinerators, water systems, water heaters, gaskets used for pipe joints, walls, ceilings, floors and electrical wiring

• Thermal and fire proofing sprays for walls, decks, beams

• Duct tape

• Artificial fireplaces and furnaces

• Textured paints, spackling, cements

Automotive Industry:

• Brake repairs

• Clutch repairs

Asbestos was used in wallboard, flooring, counter tops, ceiling tiles, insulation and carpet padding in homes and buildings, including offices and schools constructed prior to the 1980s. People who live in an older home should have a professional tester check their homes for damage that can release dangerous asbestos fibers into the air.

Home remodeling and “flipping” is a popular activity for property owners and investors. Yet people may not realize the danger from the dust they stir up by knocking out a wall, tearing up the carpet, or even being exposed to a damaged area that contains asbestos.

Although asbestos was commonly found in household products such as potholders, hair dryers and toasters, and personal products such as talcum powder, cosmetics and deodorants prior to 1980, today it isn’t used in the manufacture of products intended for the general public. Asbestos is primarily used in the manufacture of roofing compounds for commercial buildings, gaskets, friction products used on brakes and clutches. As for household products, you might want to display those older ones as antiques in a glassed in case.

Having used older household or personal items that contained asbestos, or exposure to damaged buildings, or through workplace may have put you at risk for an asbestos-related disease.

Please visit the website of Parker, Dumler & Kiely, LLP, the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. for more information, or to schedule a free consultation.

Asbestos…….The unseen killer. You may not see it or smell it, not even know that it exists, but we are all inhaling it. Many more than others.

We are all surrounded by asbestos every day that we walk and breath. The only difference is that those who are exposed on a daily and regular basis are more at risk than most.

Lung Fibrosis and Mesothelioma, cancer, are perhaps two of the deadliest results caused from long term exposure to asbestos.

Long term exposure is generally classified to those who work around asbestos and inhale asbestos fibers on a regular, daily basis at or above the dosage amount that is regulated by the government. Meaning, how many fibers per cubic centimeter per hour are legal. You need a qualified asbestos lawyer to know what these regulated laws are. Persons living near asbestos mines are also subject to severe health issues. Some asbestos fibers can remain in the air as much as three days.

Asbestos Lawyers Los Angeles are there to help you every step of the way if you are diagnosed with an asbestos related illness.

No one is safe from the exposure of asbestos. Those who work closely around the asbestos fibers are not only inhaling those fibers but may be bringing these fibers home to their families. Those family members, after being subjected to the asbestos fibers for a period of time,may also fall victim to it’s deadly effects.

Asbestos became popular after it was discovered to be a highly fire resistant material. Even used in clothing in some areas. However, after its discovery and usage, no one knew the devastation it would bring upon everyone years later.

If you have been diagnosed with lung disease or Mesothelioma, contacting Asbestos Lawyers Los Angelesas soon as you can is critical. Depending on the state in which you are filing your claim, the laws may determine the amount of time in which you have to file. This is known as ’statute of limitations’.

The amount of settlements also vary drastically from state to state. Some have been awarded thousands of dollars and some have been awarded millions.

A qualified asbestos lawyer handling your case will work to get you compensated for financial upsets such as lost wages and medical expenses endured but expenses that may be yet to come. You may also be entitled to compensation for mental anguish.

It is said that asbestos has been widely used since the late 1800s and the usage of asbestos was even more during World War II. Since then, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust, thus suffering from asbestos related disease or mesothelioma disease.

It was much later doctors and research scientists discoverd the dangers related to asbestos exposure. That it could cause serious and potentially fatal diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Even though concerned doctors and research scientists speculated about the dangers of asbestos exposure and warned industries to discontinue its use, yet asbestos was still extensively used in many products. It is said that about 85% of all diagnosed cases of asbestos related disease or mesothelioma disease can be conclusively linked to exposure to asbestos.

 Each year, about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos related disease are diagnosed. Mesothelioma is said to happen more often in men than in women and risk increases with age. People working with prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers are among those most likely to develop asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases. In addition, these people who work around asbestos could carry the asbestos dust home on their work clothes and hair, thus endangering their family members as well.

People like shipyard workers, those who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries have the higher risks of suffering from asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma disease.

Those of you have been exposing to asbestos for some time now, should notify your doctor immediately. Check out for possible warning signs or symptoms of asbestos related disease.

 

Asbestos is a mineral that can be found anywhere naturally. This mineral can cope with very high heat and an electrical current, which is why it was used a lot in the building industry at some point. In order to exploit its natural properties, the mineral was mixed with other materials.

It is necessary to ask a specialist to carry out asbestos surveys if you think your building contains asbestos materials. Asbestos can be found on insulation paint on pipes and steel framework as well as insulating board or cement. A specialist in asbestos surveys and asbestos management will be able to identify those hazardous materials.

Asbestos can be very dangerous, especially for electricians, plumbers, heating and ventilation engineer or anyone working in the building and maintenance trade. It is estimated that around one thousand people who work in these sectors actually die every year because of asbestos as there are still a lot of places where asbestos was used and where asbestos surveys were not carried out.

It is important if working in an environment containing asbestos to minimise the dust by keeping materials slightly damp, to use hand tools instead of power tools, but also to clean up around as the work progresses and to double bag asbestos waste properly.

It is also very important to wear proper clothes like disposable overalls and boots without laces or at least disposable boot covers, to have a suitable mask for the dust and above all, not to smoke, eat or drink in the work area as asbestos fibres could get into your lungs that way and cause lung cancer for example.

People who own, occupy, manage or just have responsibilities for non domestic premises that may contain this dangerous material either have the legal duty to manage the risk from it or a simple duty to co-operate with the people managing that risk, and if they have information on where asbestos could be located in the premises, they will have a duty of co-operation.

Asbestos is a very dangerous material that can cause terrible damage to the lungs. It is unfortunately still present in some buildings so as soon as you suspect the presence of this hazardous material, you should warn the person responsible for the premises so asbestos surveys can be carried out in order to identify if there is or not asbestos.

 

Asbestos exposure can cause a variety of health problems, most notably mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the membranes lining the chest and abdomen. Exposure to asbestos can also cause asbestosis, a disease that causes lung damage and can lead to serious breathing problems. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber, and everyone is exposed to asbestos at some point. The key is to know if you’re at risk for prolonged and repeated exposure that can seriously affect your health.
Because asbestos has been known to be dangerous for several decades, government regulations have lessened the risk of everyday exposure. Still, millions of people have been exposed to dangerous amounts of asbestos. Asbestos has been used in the manufacture of various materials such as insulation and factory equipment. Anyone who has been involved in the mining of asbestos is at risk for exposure. Workers who have processed asbestos or manufactured products involving asbestos are also at great risk for exposure. Those who have worked in the construction industry laying insulation, putting up or removing drywall, or removing from or demolishing buildings may be exposed to risky levels of asbestos. Others possibly affected include firefighters and anyone in the automobile manufacturing industry.
Most recently, relief and cleanup workers who worked at the site of the World Trade Center attacks in 2001 were exposed to serious amounts of asbestos. Hundreds of tons of asbestos that was used in the manufacture of the buildings were released into the air, putting everyone in the area at risk. Many of those present at the time have shown symptoms of asbestos-related disease and breathing problems. Because mesothelioma may not develop until decades after exposure, it is not yet known how many were affected.
The families of workers who are exposed to asbestos may also be at increased risk. Those who work with asbestos may bring the fibers home on their bodies or clothes. The government regulates this possibility by requiring that workers who are exposed to asbestos shower and wash their work clothes before leaving work. Still, asbestos fibers may find their way home with the workers.
If someone meets any of these criteria, it’s important that they get checked regularly for possible asbestos-related health problems. Early detection is one of the keys to recovery from diseases such as cancer, and understanding your risks of asbestos exposure will help you prevent asbestos-related health problems.

Asbestos has been used since the times of the Ancient Greeks, but its dangers are a modern-day issue. Asbestos was used often in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries because of its high tolerance to heat and its usefulness in fireproof insulation. However, recently it has been exposed that when inhaled, asbestos causes deadly lung conditions such as mesothelioma.

Occupational Exposure and Dangers To Workers

After noticing that chronic diseases, especially cancers of the lung such as mesothelioma, were extremely common in construction workers who were exposed to asbestos, doctors began making a connection between asbestos and mesothelioma. Unfortunately, construction and other workers who were exposed to asbestos from the 1950s through the 1970s, when the dangers of asbestos were more fully recognized, are still suffering from the ill effects of asbestos exposure at work. There are now laws and regulations in place that are designed to prevent workers from exposure to toxic asbestos; however, these laws cannot undo years upon years of exposure to this deadly mineral in the workplace.

Delayed Diagnosis Due To Long Dormancy Period

Workers may have been exposed to asbestos in the 1970s, but may only just now be developing the tell-tale symptoms of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is slow to appear which causes doctors to have a hard time diagnosing and treating patients with the disease in time. Because symptoms of mesothelioma don’t show up for many years after exposure and are similar to symptoms for other diseases, workers with mesothelioma might be misdiagnosed during the early stages of the disease.

Symptoms of mesothelioma include:

* shortness of breath;

* abdominal swelling;

* pain of the abdomen;

* blood clotting problems;

* chest pain;

* chronic cough;

* heart palpitations;

* fever;

* labored breath;

* weight loss.

Pleural, peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma are all possible variations of the deadly cancer, with pleural (lung) mesothelioma the most commonly manifested version of the disease.

High-Risk Professions

Though the use of asbestos is now regulated by laws and regulations, the disease’s long dormancy period means that it still has a high number of potential victims. Professions at a high risk for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma are those which involved repeated exposure to asbestos in its industrial forms. These professions include:

* electricians;

* painters;

* insulators;

* carpenters;

* bricklayers;

* construction workers;

* mechanics;

* other tradespeople, in particulal, people who worked in home or commercial construction prior to the 1970s.

Other people at risk for getting mesothelioma are the families of people who worked with asbestos because the dust may have settled in the employee’s hair or clothing.

Legal Options

Because of the huge number of potentially affected workers, there has been a significant amount of litigation against companies who irresponsibly used asbestos, exposing their workers to the threat of mesothelioma and other life-threatening asbestos-related illnesses. It is essential to consult your doctor to discuss a treatment plan if you are suffering from exposure to asbestos. Then contact an asbestos attorney who is experienced in mesothelioma litigation. A competent asbestos lawyer may be able to help you recover damages for the pain and suffering incurred through asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, defray the costs of treatment, and provide for your children if you die of the disease.

Asbestos and mesothelioma are two terms that often go together. If you are a little familiar about mesothelioma, you would know that asbestos plays a big part in it. Here are some facts you may want to know about mesothelioma and the role of asbestos.

Asbestos Exposure

The biggest risk factor to mesothelioma is past exposure to asbestos. Around 80% of mesothelioma patients have been previously exposed to asbestos. This is the reason why some people alternatively call mesothelioma asbestos cancer. There could be a lot of ways in which exposure may happen. One of the most common ways however is through work situations. Employees who work for companies that use asbestos are the most at risk of developing mesothelioma.

There are however some patients who claim that they never have been exposed. There may therefore be some other risk factors involved. There are also a number of patients who may not exactly recall when and where they were exposed to asbestos. This is especially true for people who have indirect asbestos contact. The fibers of asbestos for example can be inhaled or ingested from objects like the clothes of people working with asbestos.

Appearance of Symptoms

Early treatment is often the key to increasing cancer patient survival rates. It is possible that the same can be true for mesothelioma. Many asbestos cancer patients however only learn of their illness when it is at an advanced stage. This is because the symptoms of mesothelioma seem a lot like the symptoms of other diseases. Mesothelioma symptoms can therefore be a bit misleading. Moreover, the symptoms may appear only after 20-30 years after exposure. By that time many patients do not expect it and may even forget that they have had some experience with asbestos.

Litigation

Asbestos and mesothelioma are also often heard together in court rooms. This is because an asbestos cancer patient may have developed the illness due to company negligence. It has been proven in decades old cases that some companies were actually aware of the dangers of asbestos and did not take steps to protect their employees. In recent cases, it may still be possible for some companies to have been negligent despite existing asbestos handling laws.

If you have reason to think that a company has been negligent, you can sue. It is possible that you were not warned about asbestos or a company’s precautionary measures were not up to standard.

Prognosis

On the average, mesothelioma prognosis is not good. Based on average statistical data, a patient may not live beyond one year. This is not however an absolute figure. There have been some patients who have lived for more than five years. It is important to remember that your particular condition may not be the same as other people’s conditions. Your hopes of survival are affected by a lot of different personal factors.

Asbestos and mesothelioma truly are interconnected. If you have reason to believe that you have been exposed to asbestos, you may want to ask your doctor about monitoring.

* FACT: It is estimated that more than a million schools in the US contain some form of asbestos even today.

Asbestos comes from Greek and means ‘inextinguishable’. This ‘miracle mineral’ is naturally tough and 100% fire resistant, which accounts for its overwhelming popularity in the period between the late 1800s and late 1900s. During this time, asbestos found its way into most of the materials lying around us from pipes to buildings, kitchens, fire-proof curtains, coffee pots, burner pads and ovens. However, by the late 1900’s, enthusiasm for asbestos was on the verge of a huge decline.

In the 1970’s, surveys began to show that asbestos could kill. When asbestos is exposed to heat, friction or damage, it does not break but simply releases microscopic fibers that are about one-tenth the thickness of a strand of hair. Human beings exposed to asbestos breathe the fibers which are floating freely in the air. Once the fibers get inside the body, they cling to the lining of the lungs and cause a number of deadly diseases like mesothelioma, which is one of the leading causes of painful death in people who have been exposed to asbestos dust.

* FACT: In the last 100 years, more than 35 million tons of asbestos went into building homes, commercial buildings, shipyards, fireproof materials and industrial sites. Quite a good percentage of this is still in use.

What makes asbestos exposure difficult to detect is the simple fact that exposure does not lead to disease directly. Diseases related to asbestos exposure remain dormant for about 15-20 years. In case of mesothelioma, the lag period may even go up to 30-45 years. This means that a person exposed to the deadly fiber may start developing symptoms well after retirement or after they are past the age of gainful employment.

Another alarming feature of asbestos fiber is its portability. Microscopic fibers attach themselves tenuously to hair, skin, clothing and shoes. Thus, people who work around asbestos often act as free agents, carrying the deadly dust with them and subjecting others in the family to lethal diseases through secondary exposure.

Most people who die of exposure leave huge debts due to the expensive treatment they have undergone. This is where asbestos cancer lawyers can help. While nothing can bring back a dead person, asbestos cancer lawyers can assure that the person undergoing the disease gets proper treatment and that his near and dear ones are looked after, in case of death.

* FACT: Every year, approximately 2000-3000 new cases of mesothelioma are reported in the US alone

Asbestos related diseases can bring your life to a sudden full stop, and nothing can ward off the pain that lies ahead. However, an experienced asbestos cancer lawyer can help you meet the financial burden this dreaded condition brings. If you suspect that you or anyone in your family may have been exposed to the deadly dust, you need to contact an asbestos cancer lawyer immediately.

New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. recently released an updated version of “The History of Asbestos.” This asbestos education tool, written by leading asbestos mesothelioma attorney Chris Placitella, chronicles the strategy of silence adopted by the asbestos industry to keep the public ignorant of the health risks of asbestos exposure.

“The History of Asbestos” is a 25-minute film that investigates the decades of lies, half truths, and deceptions practiced by the asbestos industry. From the first asbestos claim in 1925, to the grossly misnamed Air Hygiene Foundation of the 1930s, and the bankruptcy of the major asbestos companies in the 1980s, it tells the story of the asbestos cover-up and the staggering number of victims it claimed through asbestosis and mesothelioma fatalities. Hidden documents, corporate negligence, and a policy of deception contributed to a conspiracy aimed at preventing asbestos industry workers from learning that asbestos dust could kill them.

Click here to view “The History of Asbestos”.

Asbestos is a carcinogen that was once widely used on construction sites and in products such as insulation, ceiling tiles, and car brakes. Breathing in asbestos causes mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the lining around the lungs and other organs. Malignant mesothelioma can take two forms: a cancer of the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma) or a cancer of the membrane that covers the organs in the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma). Malignant mesothelioma is almost always fatal, and even light asbestos exposure can result in cancer.

The New Jersey mesothelioma attorneys of Cohen, Placitella & Roth have extensive experience handling asbestos exposure cases and mesothelioma lawsuits. They have been helping New Jersey residents affected by mesothelioma receive much needed monetary compensation for over 35 years. “We fight for them like they are our own family,” says Chris Placitella, nationally renowned mesothelioma lawyer.

 

The regulations are very tough and strict when it comes to asbestos, and the regulation 4 is one example. Being so dangerous because the asbestos fibres can damage your lungs and cause cancers, this is something that should be considered seriously and that’s the reason why the regulation is so important. In this regulation 4, you will find for instance the procedure to use in case a material containing asbestos is damaged and dust is visible. In that case, all people in the building must leave it and what they call a maintenance supervisor must then be notified of the situation that they will then assess and arrange for the areas to be evacuated and sealed off to prevent any asbestos fibres to spread. You probably never thought about that but there are actually different types of asbestos surveys. The first type of asbestos survey is called a location and assessment survey which is a presumptive survey. The aim of those asbestos surveys is to actually find the presence of suspect asbestos containing material in a building and then assess their situation. The second type of asbestos surveys is called standard sampling, identification and assessment. Here, the survey will start from the type one of asbestos survey but this time samples are taken from the site to be analysed to find if there is asbestos or not. The sampling can either take place at the same time of the survey, or can also be done at a later time if for example the asbestos surveys carried out are quite large. The third and final type of asbestos surveys is called full access sampling and identification. This type of asbestos survey is in fact done to locate and portray all material that contain asbestos in the specific building and is eventually going to involve a destructive inspection. For this type of survey, a completely full sampling program is going to take place in order to find out which material contain asbestos and try to estimate the volume and surfaces affected. Here, the asbestos survey is actually done as a basis for the removal of the affected materials from the building prior to demolition or major refurbishment. Once asbestos surveys are done, all the information taken from these surveys are put into an asbestos register as well as stored electronically so it can be used in any media format. Those surveys should be carried out as soon as there is a doubt about whether you think asbestos was used in a building.