Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog
Boston Mesothelioma Lawyers have spent a few weeks outlining the more than two dozen sites across the country where federal researchers have confirmed that workers, their families and the general public were exposed to asbestos, the main cause of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma in Boston is a form of cancer that has no cure. When people inhale the tiny asbestos particles, they stick to the lining of major organs, such as the heart and lungs and develop for years, sometimes as long as 30 or 40 years, before people are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
While asbestos has never officially been banned in the United States, companies have stopped using it because of the known effects and the many lawsuits — as many as 800,000 nationwide — that have been brought because of the mineral. Asbestos is found in vermiculite, a mineral primarily mined in Libby, Montana from 1919 to 1990. The Libby mine produced 70 percent of the country’s asbestos, which was used for insulation, car parts, ceiling and floor tiles and other products.
In Libby, thousands of people have fallen ill and hundreds more have died due to asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma. Books and news reports have chronicled how the mine, the town’s main source of income, would create a dust over houses, cars and grass that children played in because of its vast production.
This series of blogs is based on a nationwide analysis of 28 sites across the United States produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous blog entries detailed sites closest to Boston. People may have lived near or worked in any of these sites and moved to New England. If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos anytime in the last decade, contact Boston Personal Injury Lawyers today.
Mesothelioma in Dearborn, MI: This site opened in the 1950s until 1989 and was run by the W.R. Grace & Company and Zonolite Company.
According to the CDC, the Dearborn site exfoliated more than 200,000 tons of vermiculite from 1966 to 1988 and records before 1966 weren’t available The site where the plant was is now owned and operated by a car parts company. Environmental researchers found that samples of soil at the site found asbestos in the mid-2000s. Vermiculite waste found inside the building also contained asbestos.
Mesothelioma in West Chicago, IL: The W.R. Grace & Company owned this site, which operated from 1974 to the early 1990s. It processed vermiculite that was shipped from the mine in Libby.
According to records analyzed by the CDC, the Chicago plant processed more than 273,000 tons of vermiculite in the time it operated. The site was sold in 1998 to a marble column manufacturing company. The CDC reports that the area around the plant is primarily commercial, but that in 1990, 3,000 people lived within a half mile of the plant.
Mesothelioma in Wilder, KY: A CDC investigation into this plant revealed that W.R. Grace & Company owned it from 1952 to 1992.
The plant processed about 220,000 tons of vermiculite in the 40 years it operated. The main products of the plant included structural fireproofing, thermal insulation for masonry construction, lightweight concrete aggregate and other products that use vermiculite. Waste materials were disposed of on site.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers provide representation of mesothelioma victims who have been unlawfully exposed to asbestos in Boston and the surrounding areas. Call (617) 777-7777 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
Previous Blog Entries:
Mesothelioma Series Continues Look at Asbestos Sites That Could Affect Boston Residents: June 8, 2011