Refinery Workers Mesothelioma Cancer - Refinery Workers
Did You Know?
During the 20th century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the U.S.
Oil Refinery workers across the Unites States were exposed to asbestos and many still continue to develop asbestos and mesothelioma cancer. One of the most dangerous jobs was that of the Oil Refinery worker. Oil refinery workers worked around equipment that contained asbestos, such as heat exchangers, ovens, driers, furnaces, and oil pumps. Asbestos was ideal for use in oil refineries because of its ability to resist corrosion and high temperatures.
Medical studies have shown that oil refinery workers with 20 or more years of experience developed asbestos related lung disease or lung cancer. Oil Refinery workers run an increased risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses.
Asbestos Exposure in Oil Refineries
If you would like more information on asbestos mesothelioma cancer please visit MesotheliomaHelpCenter.org for more articles, legal and medical information to help you better understand asbestos and mesothelioma lung cancer.
Oil Refinery List – Asbestos Exposure
Alabama
- Coastal Refining
- Hunt Refining
- Shell Chemical
Alaska
- ARCO Alaska
- Petro Star
- Tesoro Alaska Co.
- Williams Alaska Petroleum
Arkansas
- American Oil Refinery
- Berry Petroleum
- Cross Oil
- Lion Oil
California
- Anchor Refining
- Atlantic Richfield
- Bakersfield Refining Company
- Chevron Oil Refinery
- Equilon
- Exxon USA
- Greka Energy
- Gulf Oil Refinery
- Huntway Refining
- Los Angeles Refining Company
- Martinez Refining Company
- Mobil
- Occidental Oil Co Refinery
- Paramount Petroleum
- Powerine Oil Refinery – Santa Fe Springd
- Rothchild Oil Refinery
- San Joaquin Refining
- Shell Oil Refinery-Bella Vista
- Shell Oil Refinery-Domingos
- Shell Oil Refinery-Martinez
- Standard Oil Refinery – San Pedro
- Tosco Refining
- Ultramar Diamond
- Union Oil Cracking Plant (UNOCAL) - Wilmington
- Union Oil Refinery (UNOCAL) -Carson
- Union Oil Refinery (UNOCAL) -El Segundo
- Union Oil Refinery(UNOCAL) -Rodeo
- Union Oil Refinery (UNOCAL) -San Pedro
- World Oil
Colorado
Delaware
- Delaware City Refinery
- Motiva Enterprises
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
- Citgo Petroleum
- Clark
- Marathon
- Mobil Oil
- Equilon
Indiana
- BP Amoco
- Countrymark Cooperative
- Laketon Refining
Kansas
- Farmland Industries
- Frontier Oil
- National Cooperative
Kentucky
- Marathon
- Somerset Refinery
Louisiana
- American International
- BP Amoco
- Calcasieu Refining
- Canal Refining
- Cit-Con Oil
- Citgo
- Conoco
- Convent Refinery
- Exxon
- Marathon
- Mobil
- Murphy Oil USA
- Orion Refining
- Norco Refining Company
- Pennzoil
- Placid Refining
- Shell Chemical
- Valero Energy
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
- Chevron
- Ergon Refining
- Southland Oil
Montana
- Cenex Harvest States
- CONOCO Oil Refinery
- Exxon
- Montana Refining
- Sinclair Oil Refinery
Nebraska
- Phillips Petroleum Fertilizer Plant
Nevada
New Jersey
- Amerada-Hess
- Tosco Refining
- Valero Energy
New Mexico
- Giant Refining
- Navajo Refining
North Dakota
Ohio
- BP Amoco
- Clark Refining
- Marathon
- Sunoco
Oklahoma
- Conoco
- Gary-Williams Energy
- Sinclair Oil
- Sunoco
Oregon
- Shell Oil Refinery-Portland
- Chevron Oil Marketing Plant – Portland
- Shell Oil Cracking Plant
- Union Oil Cracking Plant
Pennsylvania
- American Refining
- Pennzoil
- Sunoco
- Tosco
- United Refining
Tennessee
Texas
- AGE Refining
- BP Amoco
- Chevron
- Citgo
- Clark Refining
- Coastal Refining
- Crown Central Petroleum
- Exxon
- Fina Oil
- Koch
- Lyondell-Citgo
- Marathon
- Mobil
- Motiva Enterprises
- Phillips Pride Refining
- Port Aruthur
- Shell Deer Park Refining
- Specified Fuels
- Ultramar Diamond
- Valero Energy
Utah
- American Oil Refinery
- BP Amoco
- Chevron
- Inland Refining
- Chevron Oil Refinery - Ogden
- Phillips Petroleum
- Standard Oil Refinery-Salt Lake City
Virginia
- BP Amoco
- Primary Refining
Washington
- ARCO Oil Refinery
- Atlantic Richfield
- Equilon
- Sound Refining
- Puget Sound Refining Company
- Shell Oil Refinery-Anacordes
- Tesoro West Coast
- Texaco Oil Refinery – Anacortes
- Time Oil (U.S. Oil)
- Tosco Refining
- US Oil and Refining
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
- Frontier
- Little America Refining
- Sinclair Oil
- Standard Oil Refinery-Casper
- Texaco Oil Refinery
- Wyoming Refining
Refinery Workers Linked to Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
The Issue
Asbestos was a popular material used widely in construction and many other industries. If asbestos fibres are enclosed or tightly bound in a product, for example in asbestos siding or asbestos floor tiles, there are no significant health risks. Asbestos poses health risks only when fibres are present in the air that people breathe.
Background
Asbestos is the generic name for a variety of fibrous minerals found naturally in rock formations around the world. Because asbestos fibres are strong, durable and non-combustible, they were widely used by industry, mainly in construction and friction materials. Commercial asbestos fibres belong in two broad mineralogical groups: serpentine (chrysotile) and amphibole (tremolite, actinolyte and others).
Amphibole asbestos often contains more iron and resists acid and extremely high temperatures. Because of this, it has been heavily used in industrial furnaces and heating systems. However when inhaled, amphibole fibres stay much longer in the lungs than chrysotile fibres and they are more likely to inflict damage and cause disease, including cancer. Accordingly, amphibole asbestos has been drastically controlled and largely replaced.
Chrysotile is the only serpentine asbestos that is found in almost all asbestos-based products available today and is the main form of asbestos still mined. Chrysotile is different from the amphiboles both structurally and chemically. It is generally accepted that chrysotile asbestos is less potent and does less damage to the lungs than the amphiboles.
How much asbestos is in a product does not indicate its health risk. If the asbestos fibres are enclosed or tightly bound in a compound, there is no significant health risk. One of the main problems with asbestos came from sprayed or "friable" (easily broken up) amphibole asbestos used in buildings until the 1970s. People working in construction, maintenance or in the renovation of older buildings should be particularly careful when handling this asbestos.
Sources of Asbestos
Refinery Workers Linked to Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
Occupational
The risks are greatest for workers in industries which produce and use asbestos, such as mining and milling. In the past, workers in these environments were exposed to 100 - 1,000 times more asbestos than today's workers. Today's strict standards limit workers' exposure and the ban of most uses of amphibole asbestos have reduced the risks.
During renovations and repairs to older buildings, construction workers, tradespeople and other building maintenance workers may be exposed to very high concentrations of asbestos fibres. The environment and work methods of these occupations are more difficult to control than fixed workplaces, but most tradespeople are trained in the proper handling of asbestos-containing materials.
Environmental
Negligible levels of asbestos fibres are found in the soil, water and air, both naturally and from man-made sources. Asbestos concentrations in the air in rural areas are about ten times lower than those in larger cities, which are about 1,000 times lower than levels accepted in today's asbestos-related jobs. With such low exposure, environmental risks are negligible.
Due to natural erosion, high concentrations of chrysotile asbestos fibres may be found in some raw water supplies. Conventional water treatment methods can substantially reduce asbestos levels and there is no evidence that swallowed chrysotile fibres are a health hazard.
Refinery Workers Linked to Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
Buildings and Homes
Because it is a valuable reinforcing, insulating and fire-proofing material, asbestos was used widely in construction materials such as insulation board, asbestos cement, and floor and ceiling tiles. These products are very dense and do not release significant amounts of fibres under normal use. However, fibres may be released if these products are cut or damaged.
Asbestos fibre concentrations in the air in buildings are usually about the same as in the air outside, and are not a significant risk. However, levels may be higher if friable asbestos materials are disturbed.
There is also concern about vermiculite insulation which may contain small amounts of amphibole asbestos, principally tremolite or actinolite. These amphibole fibres may cause health risks if disturbed. However, there is currently no evidence of risk to your health if the insulation is sealed behind wallboards and floorboards, isolated in an attic, or otherwise kept from exposure to the home or interior environment.
Refinery Workers Linked to Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
The Health Risks of Asbestos
Asbestos poses health risks only when fibres are present in the air that people breathe. How exposure to asbestos can affect you depends on:
* the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air;
* how long the exposure lasted;
* how often you were exposed;
* the size of the asbestos fibres inhaled; or
* the amount of time since the initial exposure.
When inhaled in significant quantities, asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs which makes breathing difficult), mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity) and lung cancer. The link between exposure to asbestos and other types of cancers is less clear.
Smoking, combined with inhaled asbestos, greatly increases the risk of lung cancer.
Refinery Workers Linked to Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
Minimizing Your Risk
Construction and maintenance workers should avoid creating asbestos dust from scraping, brushing, rubbing or cutting damaged insulation. Insulation damage should be reported to the appropriate authority, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Manager. If you work in this area, determine whether asbestos is present before beginning work and take appropriate precautionary measures.
Public and commercial building owners should keep an inventory of asbestos-containing materials to inform users, authorities and contractors.
Homeowners should receive expert advice before removing materials that may contain asbestos. If you think your home may contain asbestos, check regularly for signs of wear or damage. However, you can't always tell just by looking at a material. If in doubt, have it analyzed by a qualified professional, who can be found by looking up experts in "asbestos abatement /removal".
If you must handle small amounts of damaged asbestos-containing materials, follow these steps:
Keep other people and pets away, and seal off the work area
Wet the material to reduce dust, making sure it is not in contact with electricity
If possible, do not cut or damage the materials further and do not break them up
Clean the work area afterwards using a damp cloth, not a vacuum cleaner, and seal the asbestos waste and cloth in a plastic bag.
Check with your local municipality on how to dispose of asbestos-containing waste
Wash or dispose of clothing and shower after finishing the job.
Before you start any work you must make sure you know where all asbestos containing materials are.
The Health and Safety Executive says that the most common uses for asbestos are:
- Sprayed asbestos and asbestos loose packaging - generally used as fire breaks in ceiling voids;
- Moulded or preformed sprayed coatings and lagging - generally used in thermal insulation of pipes and boilers;
- Sprayed asbestos mixed with hydrated asbestos cement - generally used as fire protection in ducts, firebreaks, panels, partitions, soffit boards, ceiling panels and around structural steel work;
- Insulating boards used for fire protection, thermal insulation, wall partitions and ducts;
- Asbestos cement products which can be compressed into flat or corrugated sheets; corrugated sheets are largely used as roofing and wall cladding; other asbestos cement products include gutters, rainwater pipes, soil stacks and cold water cisterns;
- Some reinforced plastics, mastics and sealants;
- Millboard, paper and paper products used for the insulation of electrical equipment.
- Certain textured coatings, decorative plasters and paints;
- Asbestos ropes, gaskets and cloth;
- Flues;
The duty to manage is directed at those who manage non-domestic premises: the people with responsibility for protecting others who work in such premises, or use them in other ways, from the risks to ill-health that exposure to asbestos causes.
It requires the person who has the duty to:
Take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in non-domestic premises, and if so, its amount, where it is and what condition it is in;
Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not;
Make, and keep up-to-date, a record of the location and condition of the asbestos containing materials - or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos;
Assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from the materials identified;
Prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed;
Take the necessary steps to put the plan into action;
Periodically review and monitor the plan and the arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains relevant and up-to-date
Provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them.
Refinery Workers Linked to Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cancer
Are you in charge?
Surveying for asbestos
If you are in charge or self-employed it is up to you to search the site for asbestos before work begins, or employ a suitably trained person to carry out the survey. If you are employing someone to do the survey for you, make sure they are accredited (www.ukas.com gives information on accredited firms). Remember you can only be 100 percent sure a suspected substance does not contain asbestos after laboratory analysis.
If you find asbestos containing-materials you need to assess the condition of the material and the likelihood of it being disturbed. You will also have to make a record of where the asbestos is located, its type, its form, the amount of it and what sort of condition it is in. This record has to be kept on the premises and available to be viewed at all times. If you are unsure if something contains asbestos, always presume it does until proved otherwise. If the asbestos present is asbestos insulation, asbestos coating or asbestos insulation board, contact an HSE-licensed contractor. The person in charge of the job has to decide if the work needs to be carried out by a specialist, or if those on site can do the work.
Your responsibilities
If you are in charge of a job, you need to know how to deal with asbestos and when you need to call in a specialist licensed contractor. You are responsible for ensuring those working beneath you know the risks and precautions they should take when dealing with asbestos, and know how to use respiratory protective equipment. As the person in charge you have to prevent exposure to asbestos or reduce it to an acceptable level.
When working with asbestos you need to provide clean protective clothing, respirators that fit properly and are in good working order, training on asbestos and instruction on reducing asbestos dust in the air.
If you are responsible for disposing of asbestos waste, it will have to be taken to a licensed tip in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. Asbestos waste has to be double-bagged in heavy-duty polythene bags and clearly labelled as containing the substance with the label prescribed for asbestos.
Consult safety representatives if you need help in developing measures to ensure the health and safety of your employees.
What do I do if I find asbestos on site?
Although any asbestos-containing materials should have been identified before work begins, there may be some hidden materials on site that are not found until work starts. If you think you have found asbestos, STOP WORK IMMEDIATELY and alert people to its presence. Asbestos is not an easy substance to identify, so presume a material contains asbestos until proven otherwise. A sample needs to be tested by a specialist laboratory to confirm if asbestos is present.
Respiratory Protective Equipment
If you are working in a situation where asbestos could be present you should be issued with respiratory protective equipment. Respiratory protective equipment includes facemasks, hoods and helmets worn to protect your lungs from asbestos. The type of respirator you use will depend on the amount of asbestos present and the type of job. Make sure you use the right equipment for the job, or you could expose yourself to asbestos fibres.
MAKE SURE YOUR RESPIRATOR FITS AND WORKS CORRECTLY.
If it does not fit, asbestos fibres will enter your lungs and you will be putting your health at serious risk. Your employer (or yourself if self-employed) has to train you how to fit, clean, look after and use respiratory protective equipment properly, and keep this training up-to-date with refresher courses. Tests need to be carried out to make sure that your facemask fits properly (it is an employer's duty to make sure you have a face fit test before using any kind of respirator) as if you have a beard (even stubble), wear glasses or have sideburns, certain types of respirators may not fit adequately. NEVER TAKE OFF YOUR RESPIRATOR IN A CONTAMINATED AREA, the damage asbestos dust causes is irreversible and may cost you your life.
How can I protect myself if I am exposed to asbestos?
Along with the use of respirators you can take further action to prevent contact with asbestos fibres:
dampening down asbestos-containing materials can lower the amount of fibres in the air;
use of hand tools over power tools (power tools create more dust, it is not advisable to use them on an asbestos-containing material);
clear up asbestos dust using a 'Type H' vacuum cleaner or damp cloths;
clean up, as you go - don't let asbestos-containing waste build up;
wash your hands and face when you take a break and at the end of work;
don't take home any overalls, worn while you have been in contact with asbestos
put asbestos waste into a suitable sealed container.
Asbestos waste has to be double-bagged in heavy-duty polythene bags and clearly labelled as containing the substance with the label prescribed for asbestos;
don't eat or drink in the work area;
don't smoke
MESOTHELIOMA
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma cancer comes from inhaling or digesting asbestos dust particles. Mesothelioma cancer affects the abdominal cavity, chest cavity, and the region surrounding the heart.
Mesothelioma is a life-threatening disease and should not be left untreated. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
Mesothelioma cancer occurs in the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that covers your internal organs. The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. There are two layers of cells in the mesothelium; one layer surrounds the organs; the other layer forms a sac around the organs.
Mesothelioma is most common in the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart).
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibers in other ways, such as by washing clothes of a family member who worked around asbestos.
NEW MESOTHELIOMA CASES
It has been well documented for many years that asbestos exposure can result in the development of deadly cancers, particularly Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos. It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of Mesothelioma before 2020.
There are currently about 3000 new cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed per year, mostly in men over the age of 40.
About 4,000 People die each year from Mesothelioma. During the 20th century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the U. S.
More than 700,000 people have filed claims against more than 6,000 Asbestos companies.
These same companies knew of the dangers for many years before ever warning the public of those risks. It is thought that around eight million people in the United States have been exposed to asbestos over the past half a century, and many more cases - are expected to be reported in the next 25 years.
MESOTHELIOMA EXPOSURE
The National Institute of Health in 1978 estimated that eight to eleven million U.S. workers had been exposed to asbestos by that date. In fact, by 1970, it is estimated that some 25 million tons of asbestos were used in the U.S.
People all over the world have been poisoned by toxic levels of asbestos, putting them at risk for mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other deadly diseases that are directly caused by the inhalation and digesting of asbestos fibers.
Asbestos was used in thousands of products that humans and animals encounter on a daily basis particularly in building components such as ceiling and floor tiles, walls, bricks and stucco, and in automotive parts such as brakes and clutches.
Workers who have mesothelioma have labored for years in jobs that required frequent contact with asbestos. When asbestos is mined, processed, woven, sprayed or otherwise manipulated, its microscopic fibers can be released into the air, where they may be inhaled, initiating the development of mesothelioma.
MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS
mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss
Mesothelioma signs and symptoms:
- abdominal pain
- bowel function problems
- chest wall pain
- weight loss
- pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
- shortness of breath
- fatigue or anemia
- wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
- blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)
Mesothelioma signs and symptoms in severe cases:
- blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
- disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
- jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
- low blood sugar level
- pleural effusion
- pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
- severe ascites
MESOTHELIOMA TYPES
Mesothelioma can attack the pleural lining around the lungs. It can also attack the peritoneum, a tissue that surrounds the GI tract. Mesothelioma can attack the stomach lining, other internal organs, or even the pericardium (the tissue sac covering the heart). Thus, mesothelioma can be generally classified into the following types:
- Pleural — 75% of all mesothelioma cases
- Peritoneal — 10%–20%
- Pericardial — 5%
Mesothelioma Types
- Epithelioid — most common, best survival rate
- Sarcomatoid — most severe, but more rare
- Mixed/biphasic — a mixture of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cancer
MESOTHELIOMA DIAGNOSIS
If you think that you may have been exposed to asbestos at any time, it is important to share your concern with a physician.
Mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer, and one of the reasons that it has such a low survival rate is because it is not typically diagnosed until the disease is fairly advanced.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma is based on a pathological exam, more commonly referred to as a biopsy. This exam will test a tissue sample for the presence of malignant and/or pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos is a common theme in diagnosing mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma diagnosis is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions.
Mesothelioma diagnosis includes a physical examination followed by chest X-rays and a CT scan, and confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination.
To diagnose mesothelioma a thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) is used to do a biopsy.
Individuals with pleural mesothelioma may accumulate some fluid between the lung lining and chest cavity. This can be detected through a chest x-ray, as well as CT scans.
MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT
Treatment for mesothelioma using conventional therapies has not proved successful and patients have a median survival time of 6 - 18 months depending on which stage (1-4) the mesothelioma cancer has progressed.
Treatments for Mesothelioma
Research into new and more effective treatments for mesothelioma is ongoing. There is no cure as yet for mesothelioma. The standard treatments that attempt to hold back the progression of this cancer are:
- Surgery — to remove part of all of the affected body tissues
- Radiation therapy — to target and kill the mesothelioma cells
- Chemotherapy — the use of drugs, injected or taken orally, to kill or stop the growth of the cancer cells
Mesothelioma treatment depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
MESOTHELIOMA DRUGS
In February 2004, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) for treatment of mesothelioma. Pemetrexed is given in combination with cisplatin. Folic acid is also used to reduce the side-effects of pemetrexed.
MESOTHELIOMA AND SMOKING
Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the lungs.
The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelioma have resulted. Smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma.
The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways (lung cancer, bronchial carcinoma).
If you do smoke, stop. In addition to mesothelioma and asbestosis, there is research that indicates that those who suffer from asbestos exposure and smoke are at a greatly increased risk of developing mesothelioma lung cancer.
WHAT YOU NEED TOP KNOW ABOUT MESOTHELIOMA
Mesothelioma symptoms may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure in the workplace is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases.
Mesothelioma will cause shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space.
Mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural mesothelioma tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.
Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos related diseases.
Early Mesothelioma screening tests can diagnose mesothelioma earlier than conventional methods thus improving the survival prospects for patients.
Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated.
Mesothelioma is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
Mesothelioma death rates increased from 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from mesothelioma in the USA increased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times more likely to acquire it than women.
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is now known to occur in those who are genetically pre-disposed to it.
Mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Most doctors and medical experts agree that there will be tens of thousands of new cases of mesothelioma in the years to come.
Many building materials used in both public and domestic premises prior to the banning of asbestos may still contain asbestos.
Incidence of mesothelioma had been found to be higher in populations living near naturally occurring asbestos.
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. It was used widely used during World War II.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases.
Occupations that have high rates of exposure include ship builders, oil refinery workers, steel workers, power plant workers, Navy shipyards, pipefitters, auto workers, railroad workers and construction workers.
If you are a grieving family member or executor of the will of a person who has died from asbestos-related disease or mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a claim as well.
For those diagnosed with mesothelioma it is very important to consult with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. In most cases there are funds available for your treatment and personal suffering. Please feel free to contact us at any time at 1-800.291.0963
MESOTHELIOMA LAWSUIT - Note of Urgency
The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898).
A good Mesothelioma attorney understands the unique complexities involved in this kind of litigation lawsuit, including asbestos product identification, specific asbestos-related medical issues, and specific time constraints that narrow the window of opportunity to file a claim.
It is important to find the right Mesothelioma lawyer before your state’s statutes of limitations expires, leaving you and your family grieving and empty-handed. There's no time to wait - contact our mesothelioma lawyers today for a free case review.
We have helped many people get experienced legal and medical help for their mesothelioma cancer and asbestos cancer cases. We will actually walk you though the process of contacting an experienced mesothelioma lawyer that we have worked with to get you the best possible settlement for your mesothelioma case.
It is not uncommon for there to be 10-20 parties that are named in a mesothelioma lawsuit that are located across the United States. For example, a worker in California may have been exposed to asbestos from asbestos products shipped from Libby, Montana or from an iron ore plant in St. Paul Minnesota. This is why it is very important to obtain an experienced mesothelioma lawyer knows all of the companies in each state who have responsibility for your asbestos exposure.
We have helped people with mesothelioma cancer for more than five years on the Internet. TheMesothelioma Help Center is designed to give you quick & simple answers about mesothelioma treatments, asbestos exposure, mesothelioma diagnosis, mesothelioma symptoms, mesothelioma doctors, and we can refer you to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer in who has successfully settled mesothelioma cases.
Mesothelioma Asbestos
Asbestos
There are three most commonly used types of asbestos: white, brown, and blue. Brown and blue asbestos are most commonly associated with mesothelioma.