Asbestos is no longer used in the vast majority of construction projects in the United States due to environmental regulations. While efforts to entirely ban the substance proved unsuccessful decades ago, when a congressional ban was repealed, the use of asbestos was largely discontinued. However, many old buildings across the…
Firefighting is a dangerous job. Each year, many firefighters are seriously injured or killed. Major causes of injuries include smoke inhalation, structural collapse and burns. However, according to a recent news article in the Orlando Sentinel, firefighters are at much higher risk for many different types of cancer (pancreatic cancer…
As it stands, there is no effective treatment or cure for mesothelioma. Yes, there are drugs and radical surgical procedures, which may slightly extend a patient’s life or ease the pain and suffering to some extent. However, there is little doctors can do to really treat or cure the deadly…
For many years, talcum powder (talc) was used on a daily basis in barbershops and homes. While people still use the term talcum powder today, they are really referring to a product now called baby powder, which is primarily made from corn starch instead of actual talc. The product is…
Many people think of asbestos as a man-made poison. While it is toxic, and nearly every case of mesothelioma was due to asbestos exposure caused by the negligence of reckless people and companies, asbestos itself a substance found in nature. For thousands of years, humans have mined asbestos in one…
When we think about all the amazing inventions and discoveries associated with NASA over the last half century, it’s impossible not to wonder what the future holds. Even though the shuttle program is over, and the only place to see a NASA-manned vehicle is a museum, engineers are hard at…
Mesothelioma is not only devastating to those diagnosed with the deadly illness, but also for family and friends of victims. Everyone involved suffers, and that suffering could have been prevented, had it not been for the industry’s complete disregard for the safety of workers, consumers and families. According to a…
When it was first built, the Houston Astrodome was seen as marvel of modern engineering, which would be a gateway to the future of stadium construction. It all began, according to a recent news feature in The Guardian, with a young girl asking her father why people couldn’t play baseball…
Many old and historic buildings in Boston and across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts were built during an era in which asbestos was heavily used during construction. According to a recent article from WAMA, a new large-scale redevelopment project is now in the works in Ludlow, Massachusetts. The project site is…
BNSF Ry. Co. v. Superior Court, a case from the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District, involves a plaintiff who died as a result of malignant pleural mesothelioma caused by his occupational exposure to asbestos. Specifically, plaintiff’s family members alleged he was exposed to asbestos while working…