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Are you worried that asbestos exposure has caused your illness?

If you have worked as an engineer, auto mechanic, electrician, HVAC  mechanic or carpenter, you may have something in common with others in related South Carolina industries. At some point in your career, you may have been subjected to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous materials that has caused serious health problems in a great number of people.

The fibers of asbestos are not able to be seen without a microscope. If you inhale or swallow those fibers, you wouldn’t necessarily even be aware of it. Sadly, such situations may lead to adverse health conditions, including mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer.

The person who comes in direct contact with asbestos is not always the only one at risk for ill-effects. Sometimes, family members are unknowingly exposed as well. This is because the microscopic fibers may cling to a worker’s clothing, skin or hair, which can then be breathed in or ingested by those at home.

Asbestos exposure is a serious matter that causes injury and illness in many people’s lives. It’s never easy to face to such situations and it’s even more difficult to try to go it alone when addressing such matters in court. Speaking with an attorney experienced in asbestos-related cases is a good first step to take when pursuing justice in light of any illness or injury you’ve suffered on the job. Sadly, not every victim survives; when fatalities occur, immediate family members may act on the behalves of their ones in court. Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC is full prepared to answer any questions you might have about filing a claim in South Carolina.

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Living in The Era of The Third Wave of Asbestos Exposure

Think asbestos exposure is a thing of the past? Think again. It may seem like common sense — this material is extremely dangerous, we know this material is linked to various forms of extremely deadly cancers — so why is asbestos exposure still an issue?

Unfortunately the answer is not a simple one. Asbestos is a product used in a wide variety of materials. Flooring, braking systems and fiber optic cables are just a few examples. Workers can suffer exposure to this dangerous material when manufacturing, installing or removing products containing asbestos.

Employers are generally required to take safety precautions when workers are exposed to a material known to contain asbestos. A recent report in NPR discusses exposure, noting businesses may be tempted to “cut corners on protections to save money.” This can result in avoidable exposure to workers.

How much exposure to asbestos can result in illness? Unfortunately, even a small amount of exposure can result in illness. One example of a deadly asbestos related illness is mesothelioma. The disease is not uncommon. 2,700 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the United States.

What can I do if I or a loved one am diagnosed with an asbestos related disease? Those who are diagnosed with an asbestos related illness and believe they were exposed to the material while working have legal rights. Employers can be held accountable. Contact an experienced lawyer to discuss these rights and better ensure you receive your rightful compensation to help cover the costs connected to exposure.

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Understanding Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive and deadly form of cancer. It attacks the surface layers of the lungs, stomach, and other internal organs. Approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States every year. Every single one of these cases is caused by the same risk factor: exposure to asbestos.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of naturally-occurring minerals. Asbestos crystals take the form of long flexible fibers; these fibers are durable, lightweight, resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals, as well as sound absorbent.

Because of these unique qualities, asbestos was used extensively in building materials, fire-fighting equipment, automotive brakes and clutches. Unfortunately, exposure to asbestos fibers has severe long-term health effects. Asbestos is now known to directly cause mesothelioma, for which there is no cure, along with other serious respiratory ailments.

Hidden Workplace Hazard

In 20th century America, asbestos was everywhere. As a natural and affordable material that was resistant to fire, asbestos was incorporated into numerous building materials widely used in commercial and residential building construction: floor tiles, popcorn ceilings, roofing fabrics, plaster, drywall compounds, siding, insulation for pipes — the list goes on and on. Apartment buildings, factories, schools, and private homes were all likely to contain asbestos products.

Certain industries were especially prolific in the use of asbestos. During the era of World War II, asbestos was used in huge quantities to insulate pipes, boilers, and other components of ships. Shipyard workers have been especially affected by mesothelioma and related diseases in the decades since.

But it is not just workers who actively handled asbestos that are at risk. It was easy for those who were exposed to bring the hazardous particles home on their clothing and hair. They unknowingly put their families and loved ones at risk, as well as anyone else they came in contact with.

Reluctant Regulatory Response

Even though medical studies in the first half of the 20th century had already shown clear connections between prolonged exposure to asbestos and serious, fatal medical conditions, the industrial use of asbestos did not slow down. Some companies sought to keep the risk secret from the public. Even when regulatory action was eventually taken, it was often delayed by resistance from business interests, at the expense of public health.

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Who Was Responsible For Your Asbestos Exposure?

Asbestos exposure decades ago can lead to a mesothelioma diagnosis today. Although some people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma may immediately know where their exposure occurred, others may not. In some cases, 40 or 50 years may have passed between the time of exposure and the diagnosis.

Individuals are encouraged to seek legal help even when the source of exposure is unknown:

  • Workplace exposure: Many people were exposed to asbestos at work. Individuals who worked in shipbuilding, paper mills, oil refineries, chemical plants, and textile mills may have been exposed.
  • Family exposure: Individuals who were exposed at work could have brought asbestos particles home, inadvertently exposing family members this dangerous mineral.
  • Other sources of exposure: Individuals may have been exposed by certain household products. Individuals may have been exposed by living close to a worksite where asbestos products were used – or living in an area where asbestos occurs naturally. There are other potential sources of asbestos exposure.

If the source of your asbestos exposure is not known, it is advisable to talk to one of our attorneys. We have significant experience identifying these sources.

Once it is determined where your exposure occurred, we can help you identify a course of legal action. Many companies were aware of the dangers of asbestos but continued to use this dangerous material – exposing workers and others to this cancer-causing substance and changing lives forever.

Free consultation: If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and wish to speak to one of our attorneys about your legal options, please call 843-410-3956. We can meet in your home no matter where you live in the United States.

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Which U.S. States Have The Highest Mesothelioma Rates?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Individuals anywhere can develop mesothelioma, but there are certain regions with higher incidence rates. Let’s take a look at some of them.

States

High rates of mesothelioma in certain states are tied to asbestos exposure. States with a high incidence rate (1.43 to 1.65 cases per 100,000 population) include:

  • Alaska
  • Maine
  • New Jersey
  • Washington
  • West Virginia

States with an elevated incidence rate (1.25 to 1.42 cases per 100,000 population) include:

  • Delaware
  • Louisiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • New Hampshire
  • Pennsylvania
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Why do these states tend to have higher rates of mesothelioma? It’s often due to the prevalence of certain industries, including s hipping, mining, refineries, chemical plants, and, in the case of New Jersey, it was home to one of the largest asbestos manufacturers. Some of these regions have naturally occurring deposits of asbestos as well.

The state with the most mesothelioma-related deaths is California. It has many of the largest deposits of naturally occurring asbestos in the United States, and is home to two of America’s busiest ports.

Men have a higher incidence rate than women, which may be explained by a higher risk of occupational exposure in industries, such as ship building, mining, construction, home renovation, etc.

It is common to see mesothelioma diagnoses in areas that rely heavily on asbestos, and where workers are exposed to asbestos in their jobs. However, it is important to note that asbestos exposure has occurred all over the United States, and individuals anywhere can be diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.

This data is from the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.

Free consultation: If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the law firm of Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman, LLC, can help. We represent clients nationwide. Call 843-410-3956.

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Is Asbestos Banned In The United States?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is widely known to cause cancer. During the Industrial Revolution, asbestos became widely used. Soon after, the asbestos manufacturing industry was booming.

Unfortunately at the time, the dangers of asbestos were not fully understood. Asbestos mining, manufacturing, and use continued. People were getting sick and the sicknesses were attributed to asbestos exposure as early as 1897. Lung cancer was tied to asbestos definitively in the 1950s and mesothelioma in the 1960s and there was a great deal of evidence regarding the relationship between cancer and asbestos exposure even earlier.

Many people are under the assumption that asbestos is banned in the United States, but this is not the case. Asbestos mining no longer takes place in the U.S., but the substance is still imported. Asbestos is still used in various industries and products.

Fifty-plus nations around the world have banned asbestos. But this cancer-causing substance is still being used in the United States. Get more information on Asbestos Nation.

Sadly, asbestos exposure in any amount can cause cancer. Those exposed to asbestos at work are at risk for developing mesothelioma – but many people do not realize that family members may also be at risk. Workers who have been exposed to asbestos at work may inadvertently transmit asbestos fibers home with them, putting others at risk.

As long as asbestos is still used in the United States, we will continue to see mesothelioma diagnoses and other adverse health effects.

Find out how we can help: If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you deserve to learn about your legal options. Please call Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman at 843-410-3956. We represent clients nationwide and we can come to you, no matter where you live in the U.S.

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