Asbestos and Its Historical Link to Tragedy and Compensation

Exposure to asbestos has been repeatedly linked to mesothelioma, a connection made as early as 1870 when E. Wagner recognized the disease. Two cases of asbestos-caused mesothelioma were also studied by Joseph Lieutaud via 3,000 autopsies. Though this sickness continued to be studied through 1960s, many fast-growing lung cancers had already been detected before this period. Only after the 1960s did mesothelioma become a well-recognized disease via a report from a South African mining community wherein thirty-three cases of the sickness were identified in persons between the ages of 31 and 68 years old. More cases were also reported from those who lived near the mining facility despite the fact that the patients were not employees of the mining facilities.

Tracing Asbestos' Effects

Asbestos, a known biological irritant, was first made for home use, such as insulation, gaskets, flooring and roofing. It was also commonly used for shipbuilding, brake pads and many other products. Because of its widespread usage, the number of asbestos exposure cases have grown over the years, and numerous people have been infected with asbestos-related illnesses. Most of these diseases are life-threatening, which is why many deaths can be traced to the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

The very first recorded diagnosis for an asbestos-related illness was made in 1924. A woman died due to asbestosis. She was working with the deadly material when she was a teenager. Given that the dormancy stage of the disease lasts for years, her body succumbed to asbestosis when she was only 23. Soon after, other diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer were linked to asbestos exposure, explaining why there were so many "young deaths" years before the first case of asbestosis was discovered.

There are three main types of malignant mesothelioma, which is diagnosed based on a biopsy of tumor cell samples. About 50% to 70% of mesothelioma are the epithelioid type. This type has the best outlook for survival or prognosis. The other two types are the sarcomatoid type (7%-20%), and the mixed/biphasic type (25%-30%). Treatment options for all three types are the same. Unfortunately, the overall prognosis for patients with malignant mesothelioma remains poor.

In 1931, the government made laws that covered "asbestos diseases," naming them as valid excuses to be absent from work. The need for ventilation was also stressed by such laws, which is why organizations that work with asbestos are required to increase workspace and provide equipment for ventilation.

The Inception of Asbestos Lawyers

As asbestos health hazards quickly became known to the public, many companies who manufactured and distributed asbestos tried to conceal the truth about asbestos and even withheld information showing that asbestos was present in their workspaces. This paved the way for more people to become asbestos victims. Thereafter, lawsuits were brought against a number of the companies, but some of them failed to bring justice to the victims.

Lawyers began to form groups dedicated to regulating the use of asbestos and defending asbestos victims. There were more courtroom victories for the victims and, as a result, laws limiting the use of asbestos were finally passed.

If you would like to learn more about your legal options, please click the blue link to contact an asbestos lawyer.

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Mesothelioma Asbestos Lawyer - A History of a Malignant Industry and How to Receive Compensation

The history of asbestos dates back to around 2000 thousands years ago. However, it may surprise you to know that the dangers of asbestos have been known as far back as the Roman empire, when it was linked to lung disease in the slaves that were forced to mine the mineral for commercial use.

In more recent history, in 1918, the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics published a report that linked the deaths of asbestos workers to the inhalation of asbestos.

Then in 1924, a 33 year old woman named Nellie Kershaw died from the world's first diagnosis of asbestosis in the UK. She worked in an asbestos plant for the world's largest asbestos conglomerate named Turner & Newall (T&N). T&N denied any responsibility or compensation. Decades later, documents at the Manchester Metropolitan University exposed the scandalous fact that T&N had known all along that asbestos was a lethal carcinogen.

Despite the known dangers of asbestos, the asbestos industry exploded all around the world, peaking in the 1970's at over 5 million tons/year. Today, the world is still producing over 2 million tons/year even after its use has been banned in over 60 countries around the world.

So why was asbestos used on such a widespread global basis when it was a known fact that it was toxic. The answer is profits. Asbestos is a deadly but amazing mineral that has incredible physical properties that allow for its use as a light weight fire retardant material.

Since the lethal nature of asbestos was public knowledge by the 1930's it has been proven in court that corporations knew of the deadly nature of asbestos and still willingly exposed the public and their employees to it. Many victims of asbestos have received compensation for their medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. On February 27, 2008, one of the largest court settlements was awarded in New Jersey. The amount of $30.3 million was awarded to the widow and three daughters of Mark Buttitta from General Motors. The interesting fact about this case was that Mr. Buttitta claimed his exposure to asbestos was from his father and brother who brought home asbestos contaminated clothing from their jobs at General Motors.

There is a massive legal industry that is growing to obtain compensation for mesothelioma patients. Many legal precedents have been set in courts around the world which make it much easier to prove that employers knew of the dangers surrounding asbestos exposure. It is relatively easy to find a lawyer in your area that specializes in mesothelioma litigation especially if you live in a big city. Simply use a Google search and type in something like,"mesothelioma lawyer New York". Your visit to the lawyer will more than likely be short lived as most mesothelioma lawyers will be respectful of your health and emotional challenges and will do all that they can to handle the case with as little of your time as possible.

Paul Folkmann is a mesothelioma cancer researcher. To learn more about mesothelioma and how to receive compensation, visit: Mesothelioma Oracle. There you will also find information on mesothelioma treatments, stories of hope, and the latest news.

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Get the Right Asbestos Lawsuit Lawyer For Your Compensation Claim

An asbestos lawsuit is often the only way for victims of asbestos induced diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and certain kinds of lung cancer, to recover monetary compensation for what has been done to them and their families. The defendants in mesothelioma asbestos law suits are typically employing companies of the building supply and production industry.

The purpose of an asbestos litigation is to prove that your employer can be held responsible for the damage that was caused to your health as a result of not providing you with the adequate safety measures while you were at your working place. The goal is to get compensated for things like lost wages, medical expenses related to the asbestos induced disease, etc.

It goes without saying that it is of paramount importance to team up with a top mesothelioma asbestos lawyer. He will not only be able to help you to answer all the questions you may have, but also represent and speak in your behalf, either in a court procedure or by dealing with the insurance company of the defendant, in the event that a compensation settlement can be agreed upon before trial.

It might be a good idea to do some research on asbestos lawyers to check if they can provide you with a proven track record of cases that they were able to handle successfully for their clients. Some asbestos lawsuit attorneys publish their cases on their websites.

But there is also another critical point that you should take into consideration. Make sure that you are comfortable with your lawyer on a personal level, too. An asbestos law suit can last for quite a while, especially if the plaintiff denies his responsibility for your health condition.

Therefore, you need to keep in mind that you might have to work with your lawyer for an extended period of time until your case can be closed.

The author Tony Ulrich was diagnosed with kidney cancer in October of 2009. In his research on what his cancer could have been caused by, he came across with data that suggests a strong link to environmental toxics, such as asbestos. Please visit his Kidney Cancer and Mesothelioma Asbestos website for more details.

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