Mesothelioma Information Washington DC Blog | Parker, Dumler and Kiely LLP

For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency has declared a public health emergency. This is due to the high number of asbestos-related illnesses suffered by the population of Libby, Montana. The town will receive more than $130 million for cleanup and medical needs.

It is estimated that 200 people have died and at least a thousand more have been sickened with illnesses, including mesothelioma. The culprit is the vermiculite mine that was operated from the 1920s to 1990. Vermiculite by itself is not necessarily harmful, however, the vermiculite from the Libby mine was contaminated with asbestos.

Vermiculite is used in a variety of materials, and the vermiculite the Libby mine was mostly used in Zonolite, an insulation used in millions of homes across the country. Virtually all the vermiculite that was mined was contaminated with asbestos. This means that the small town was exposed for decades as the mining was in progress. However, while those who mined the vermiculite were definitely exposed, entire families may have also been sickened. Mine waste, called trailings, were used as mulch in gardens, as fill for driveways, and even in playgrounds and the local high school track.

The mine operator, W.C. Grace, closed the mine in 1999, but cleanup efforts have stalled time and again over the last decade. In 2008, three executives of the mining company were acquitted of criminal charges related to the town’s exposure. However, they agreed in 2008 to pay the EPA $250 million for cleanup costs.

If you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness, please contact the experienced mesothelioma lawyers at Parker, Dumler & Kiely LLP for an initial consultation.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) there are between 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma diagnoses each year in the U.S. and over 10,000 reported worldwide, annually. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, accounting for less than 5% of all cancers. Attorneys at the firm Parker, Dumler, & Kiely, LLP have posted a variety of valuable information to help you understand this disease and how it affects you and your family.

The NCI says, "Those who worked in industries that made widespread use of asbestos are at high risk for developing mesothelioma." About 80% of mesothelioma cases are traced back to a job that exposed the victim to asbestos, even though this may have been 10-50 years earlier. Most patients aren't diagnosed until they are in their mid-60s, but this is an average age, meaning that about half are diagnosed at younger ages.

Exposure to asbestos, even in high and frequent concentrations doesn't automatically mean that a person will develop an asbestos-related disease, though greater exposure increases risk proportionately. Some patients never worked directly with asbestos, but were contaminated indirectly through industrial pollution or personal contact with someone who worked in the industry. Workers left their jobs with asbestos on their bodies and clothing, spreading the fibers accordingly.

If you develop any symptoms of mesothelioma you should see your doctor and make sure he knows of your asbestos exposure. While symptoms can appear similar to the flu, if they don't subside in a few days, ask to be tested to be sure you don't have mesothelioma.

Should you receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma, or any asbestos-related disease, seek legal counsel quickly. Statutes of limitations may affect your eligibility to claim damages. Please contact Parker, Dumler, & Kiely, LLP, serving clients in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Per the National Cancer Institute, ASBESTOS is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. These silicate compound fibers are fire retardant, heat resistant, non conductive, and resistant to chemicals making them ideal for many products and industrial uses. Unfortunately, asbestos contamination has serious health consequences.

As of 1989 all new uses of asbestos have been banned, but previous uses are still allowed. However, many products are no longer manufactured using asbestos, such as crayons, hairdryers, and kitchen appliances.

Aside from asbestos mines, asbestos can be found in minute quantities everywhere. These quantities are small enough that continued exposure is not considered to be a risk. But higher concentrations can be found in many places in addition to manufacturing plants and companies that use asbestos in their products. Asbestos usage in older homes was so extensive that many people are living in a potential disaster area.

Asbestos can be found in work places that employ laborers for many industries like welding, brake and auto repairs, and many others. Asbestos can be found in commonly used buildings such as hospitals, office buildings and schools, or industrial sites such as cement factories, chemical plants, or power plants, and many others.

Asbestos can also be found in older products and appliances that may be available in thrift stores, antique stores, basements and attics. These older products may well be in a state of deterioration, though they may look to be intact. These can be any product that generated heat or, like a potholder, protected from heat. They could include products that were fire or chemical retardant, such as children's clothing and blankets made prior to 1979.

If you believe you have an asbestos-related disease you should seek legal advice without delay. For a free, personalized consultation, please contact Parker, Dumler, & Kiely, LLP, serving Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. clients with asbestos-related claims.

Most people at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease have worked in an industry that either mined asbestos or manufactured products with asbestos. Other high risk asbestos industries are those that used asbestos products, such as construction, shipbuilding, automotive industry-especially involving brake pads, cement factories and many other manual labor-intensive industries.

Also at risk are the families of these workers who have, in the past, brought home fibers on their clothing and bodies. Recent protective practices require workers to shower and change clothing before leaving a contaminated area, reducing the likelihood of exposing others by personal contact. However, prior to implementing these protections, those exposed to workers may still develop symptoms in the future.

One lesser-known industry is the do-it-yourself home remodeling and renovation sector, where people are not aware of the extent to which asbestos was used in older homes. Demolition industries create huge clouds of dust as older buildings come down, and many of these buildings contain extensive amounts of asbestos.

Because diseases associated with asbestos exposure have been found in people with little or no known exposure, and because asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that can be found in minute quantities anywhere, to a small degree we are all at risk. These diseases take from 10-50 years to develop symptoms

Take Control

If you believe you are being exposed to asbestos and are not being informed, or have not been offered protective equipment, you can speak to your employer or whoever oversees the company that is responsible for the exposure. If they do not respond with satisfactory evidence that they are not putting you at risk, you can report them to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), or contact a lawyer experienced with asbestos cases for information on other remedies.

If you are at risk for an asbestos-related disease, you may have legal options. Please contact Parker, Dumler & Kiely, LLP, the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. for a personalized, free consultation.