Articles Posted in Asbestos Exposure

Researchers recently conducted a study on the risk of developing mesothelioma a full four decades after having been first exposed to asbestos. Unfortunately, the study showed that it is not possible to outlive the risk of mesothelioma because a long latency period does not diminish the toxicity of asbestos. In fact, there is no decline at all in the risk that mesothelioma will develop even after 40 years have passed since exposure occurred.

The long latency period of asbestos can make it more difficult for victims to recover compensation from those responsible for exposing them to this dangerous toxin. An experienced Boston mesothelioma lawyer should be consulted by those with asbestos-related health conditions for help understanding their legal options and pursuing a damage claim.
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Massachusetts’ oldest structures may be more likely to contain asbestos. According to the Boston Globe, the hospital that provided care to young victims of tuberculosis for decades continues to pose a risk of asbestos exposure. The Plymouth County Hospital was shut down in 1992 and still sits idle and decaying. Officials are trying to work out plans for the old building, while remaining wary of toxins and hazards that could be kicked up through demolition and renovation efforts. The hospital suffered fire damage and has been crumbling for years. It has also been a fascination of ghost hunters and carries a mystique for residents and visitors.

Now, the Old Colony Planning Council is identifying and exploring potential options for the building and property site. The organization is working on a report that will be presented in December. While some potential uses for the building may increase revenue, create a renewal of the space, and preserve a historical landmark, officials must remain wary of the potential dangers of asbestos exposure. Our Boston mesothelioma attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. We are also abreast of legal issues and other developments related to asbestos exposure.
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Asbestos lurks in structures throughout Boston’s metropolitan area and the state of Massachusetts. The threat of exposure has created an incentive for government agencies as well as legislators to invest in clean-up to protect residents and workers. In a revitalization effort in Holyoke, the Environmental Protection Agency is providing the city with $247,000 to clean up hazardous materials at the former Hart Will Combing Factor on Appleton Street. The public has been invited to hear the city’s plan to clear the asbestos through safe removal processes.

Efforts to clean-up this building and others like it are taking place throughout the state. The clean-up was ordered after an analysis released by an environmental infrastructure company revealed high levels of toxicity and hazardous materials. Our Boston mesothelioma attorneys understand the significant risks posed by properties with asbestos contamination. For victims, the exposure can be immediate and the onset of mesothelioma may not be detected for years or decades. Despite clean-up efforts, asbestos exposure continues to pose a threat and onset of the dangerous cancer.
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Asbestos has a very long history of use, with new research indicating that it dates back to at least the late 1100s. Unfortunately, asbestos has been proven to significantly increase the risk of serious medical problems including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestos.

Those who are exposed to asbestos in old buildings or in other old materials using asbestos could become very sick. Breathing in asbestos particles can result in scar tissue forming on the lungs that, over a period of decades, will develop into the life-threatening lung conditions that have been linked to the asbestos silicate fibers. Those who are exposed to asbestos may be able to take legal action with the help of a Boston mesothelioma lawyer to recover compensation from the manufacturer or others responsible for the exposure.
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Asbestos Awareness Week takes place each year at the beginning of April. In 2014, the 10th Annual Asbestos Awareness Week ran from April 1- April 7. Asbestos Awareness Week is presented by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and it involves a multi-pronged campaign designed to both raise awareness of asbestos-related medical problems and to prevent further exposure in the future that could have deadly effects.

Drawing attention to the problems of asbestos is important because many people are unaware that this deadly substance still exists in common products and may be found in as many as 80 percent of older buildings built before the mid-1970’s. Exposure to asbestos has serious potential consequences and could cause a rare cancer called mesothelioma, as well as lung cancer, asbestosis and other medical conditions. Victims can take action with the help of a Boston mesothelioma lawyer, but hopefully with broader awareness, fewer people will be exposed and get sick.
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A plumber has filed a lawsuit against a medical center for wrongful termination, claiming he was fired because he reported asbestos to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Employers are generally prohibited by law from firing whistleblowers who report wrongdoing or who alert OSHA to workplace health hazards. As such, if the plumber can prove that he was terminated due to complaining about asbestos on the job, he should be entitled to back pay and compensation.

Workers in the building trades, including plumbers, should be aware of what asbestos fibers look like and should alert their employers immediately if they identify any signs that these fibers are present. Exposure to asbestos fibers can be deadly and there is never an excuse for not taking asbestos complaints seriously. A Boston mesothelioma lawyer can represent individuals exposed to asbestos on the job who became ill and can help victims to ensure that they are not retaliated against for protecting their right to avoid exposure.
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The estate of a shipfitter who died of mesothelioma at aged 62 recently won a lawsuit against nine asbestos companies. The shipfitter’s wife sued and claimed that her husband’s exposure to asbestos occurred when he worked at the Philadelphia Navel Shipyard between 1965 and 1971. Although he left this career and spent the rest of his life as a nurse anesthetist, he was still diagnosed of mesothelioma in 2010 because of the asbestos he encountered on the job. He died six months after his initial diagnosis.

According to the Legal Intelligencer, the jury hearing the claim found for the estate and awarded damages of $7.2 million against the nine companies whose asbestos products were used by the shipfitter and caused his exposure. The compensation included $3.6 million in Survival Act damages and $3.6 million in wrongful death damages.
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