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The History of Asbestos

December 10, 2014 By

Asbestos has been mined and used for over 4,000 years although it was not mined on a large scale until the 19th century when it started to be used in housing.

The word asbestos comes from the ancient Greek, meaning “unquenchable” or “inextinguishable”. Even in Ancient Greece it was used and people who worked with asbestos became sick although no one knew why.

Asbestos then became even more popular as Great Britain and to a lesser extent the rest of the world, began the Industrial Revolution with a need to control the heat used to power all the machinery. Asbestos was used to insulate the steam pipes, turbines, oven and kilns.

The first asbestos mines opened in 1879 in Quebec providence of Canada and then in Russia, Australia, and South Africa. By 1900, doctors started to report lung sickness in patients who had worked in asbestos textile factories and asbestos mines, but it was not until 1924 that the very first case of asbestosis was diagnosed and it was later called mesothelioma.

Despite the health concerns, asbestos became very important in the United States as the railroads were built and it was used to prevent heat buildup and temperature fluctuation in steam powered trains. , By the break out of the Second World War, asbestos was being used in the shipping industry, the automobile industry and in the construction industry.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Asbestos Mesothelioma

Veterans at Risk of Asbestos Related Diseases

December 6, 2014 By

Until most of its uses were banned in the 1970’s, millions of members of the United States Armed Services were exposed to asbestos as it was used in various ways within all of the branches of the military.

In the navy, asbestos was used for insulation as well as piping and plumbing fixtures on board ships.

In the air force, asbestos was used in the production of planes including the brakes and engine parts.

In the army, asbestos was used in the production of brakes, gaskets and other vehicle parts for military vehicles.

Asbestos was also widely used in barracks and military building during the construction, not only to insulate roofs and walls but also in the concrete flooring.

And finally certain firearms and ammunition also contained asbestos.

As asbestos was used so widely, veterans are at great risk for developing asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma and other lung diseases. In fact, veterans of the United States Army account for one third of all mesothelioma diagnoses in the country and even more at risk are Navy veterans. Indeed, because of their prolonged exposure to asbestos on board ships, mesothelioma in Navy veterans accounts for a large percentage of all military related diagnoses.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

 

Filed Under: Asbestos Mesothelioma

Abestos Award Upheld

November 18, 2014 By

In October, the judges involved in the Izell case in California have ruled that an $18 million dollar asbestos settlement will stand.

The lawsuit was filed by Bobbie and Helen Izell who alleged that Bobbie developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure to Union Carbide’s products, which then resulted in his death.

Union Carbide used to be a supplier of asbestos to companies that made and marketed products for the construction industry, until 1985 when the use of asbestos in that type of products was banned. Bobbie Izell owned a construction company and built about 200 homes in California between 1964 and 1994 and often visited the jobsites.

During the trial a memo was discovered which revealed that although the company knew asbestos caused cancer they did not warn about the risk believing that would harm sales of the building supplies.

The Izells were awarded $48 million including $18 million in punitive damages but Union Carbide appealed. Their appeal as rejected by a California appellate court.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

 

Filed Under: Asbestos lawsuits

Talcum Powder May Contain Asbestos

November 11, 2014 By

Asbestos is a natural mineral found in certain rock formations, which was mined extensively and used in a variety of products, often used in building. However, exposure to the fibers became linked to lung disease and a deadly cancer known as mesothelioma and the use of the product has been banned in insulation and many other products.

However, what is maybe not widely known is that asbestos is also naturally present in talc which is a soft mineral used in makeup and baby powder. Researchers have been looking to see if talc products cause the same health issues as other types of exposure to asbestos.

Researchers began by tracking the talc from where it was mined, then to a talcum powder and finally into the lungs of a woman who had died from mesothelioma having used talcum powder for years. Further research showed that talcum powder had high levels of asbestos which was easily inhaled, especially when used in confined spaces like a bathroom. They concluded that mesothelioma could be caused by use of talcum powder which was contaminated by asbestos.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in charge of checking cosmetics but it cannot insist that they are tested before appearing on the shelves which means that talc which contains asbestos could be easily available and with no warning to the public.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

 

 

Filed Under: California abestos

Awaiting Supreme Court Ruling for Asbestos Ruling

November 4, 2014 By

The California Supreme Court is currently considering two rulings on whether companies should be held liable for asbestos related injuries to people whose exposure to the substance was secondhand.

The court is considering whether owners of premises and manufacturers of products containing asbestos are liable for secondary exposure to asbestos. For example in the situation whether a wife who contracts asbestos related diseases through washing her husband’s clothes where the dust is present has a valid claim against his previous employers.

The other area they are considering is whether a manufacturer has a duty of care to the person who contracts an asbestos related injury due to handling or working with their product but at their employer’s premises. For example if someone was installing brake linings with asbestos, who is liable, the mechanic who employs them or the manufacturer of the linings?

Premises owners usually say that they simply had asbestos in their facility and did not have the kind of expertise about the products that manufacturers do. But plaintiffs argue that premises owners should be held liable for secondary exposures because it is they who are in control of how workers on their premises might be exposed to the asbestos.

The rest of the country is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the ruling given the size of the state of California and the influence of its Supreme Court.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Asbestos Mesothelioma, California abestos

Asbestos Crews Enter Ghostly Mansion

October 27, 2014 By

Wolfe Manor in Clovis, California, is a favorite haunt for those searching for ghosts, but the 92 year old mansion is about to be demolished as it has been identified as dangerous.

Over the past five years police have responded to nearly a hundred calls and the house has been looted and even set on fire. City management stated that they have been asking the owner to clean up or improve the property for the last five years, but now they are moving to have it demolished.

Todd Wolfe has owned the mansion for 17 years and operated it as a Halloween attraction until neighbors’ complaints forced him to shut it down. He then opened it to ghost hunters but the city stopped that too.

He has asked for more time but the city has already hired an asbestos removal crew and plans to demolish the building.

The mansion started out as a private residence in 1922. After the original owner died an untimely death, it was subsequently turned into a hospital and sanitarium. Later it became a mental hospital and a nursing home. Many people died in the building over the years, which is why it has been featured in several “Ghost Hunter” type television programs.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California abestos

Schools Closed Due to Asbestos Scare

October 13, 2014 By

Huntington Beach school officials announced on Wednesday that three Orange County elementary schools are being closed because asbestos has been found on campus.

Asbestos was found last summer at Oak View and Lake View during a renovation project, but now asbestos fibers have been recently found again at Hope View and Lake View so all three school are now closed at least through Friday for cleaning and re-testing. The three closed schools all tested positive for asbestos during inspections in August, then tests in September were negative. But a third round of inspections this past weekend revealed a fiber at Hope View.

Authorities have said that the schools had asbestos fire retardant that was installed in the 1960s and it may be deteriorating. They believe that it might have been released from the attic space during maintenance or installation activities above the ceiling.  Eight other campuses remain open but officials have pledged to test all classrooms at all Huntington Beach’s schools.

At a public meeting on Tuesday, dozens of parents were angry with school district officials over their handling of the issue and some even called for the assistant superintendent who oversaw the district’s modernization projects to resign.

Meanwhile, Ocean View School District has been investigating whether contractors carried on removing asbestos from facilities after the school year began in September, which may have endangered the students.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

 

Filed Under: California abestos

Health Risks Posed by Asbestos

October 2, 2014 By

Many people, when they hear of asbestos, think that the only disease it causes is the lung disease asbestosis or mesothelioma, the highly dangerous cancer which affects the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities.

In actual fact, asbestos can lead to a variety of other diseases, one of which is asbestos warts which are growths on the skin which are somewhat like calluses, caused by the sharp fibers when they lodge in the skin. These calluses are benign, in the same way as what are known as pleural plaques, which are thickened areas of the lung, visible on X rays, which are caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Pleural plaques will not normally cause any lung impairment nor lead to mesothelioma.

Finally there is diffuse pleural thickening which is similar to pleural plaques but can cover a wider area and is sometimes associated with asbestosis. Usually there are few or no symptoms but if it is extensive then it can cause lung impairment.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Asbestos Mesothelioma, California abestos, California asbestosis

California is Number One in Asbestos Related Deaths

September 21, 2014 By

California has the highest number of asbestos related deaths in the country and some of the largest deposits of asbestos in the world.

From 1999 to 2010 the exposure to asbestos by California residents led to thousands of cases of mesothelioma, which is a deadly cancer caused primarily by exposure to the mineral.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated many sites in California as Superfund sites and a number are considered priorities, partly due to asbestos related problems. These include Hunters Point Naval Shipyard which used asbestos widely, leading to EPA intervention and also the W.R. Grace site which processed materials containing asbestos and went on to contaminate the surrounding area.

Asbestos which occurs naturally is also a serious problem and according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), 45 out of 58 counties in the state have asbestos deposits. The entire city of Coalinga had natural asbestos spread throughout the town following mining and processing activity and El Dorado Hills is home to one of the largest natural asbestos deposits in the world. This means that all residents in that area must take special care to minimize the risk of exposure to asbestos.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Filed Under: California abestos

Check Your Environment For Carcinogens

September 14, 2014 By

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths and the second most common cancer among both men and women in the United States. The agency highlights that there are numerous airborne pollutants that are known to cause lung cancer.

They say that the most important thing a person can do to lower their lung cancer risk is to stop smoking and aim to avoid secondhand smoke.

The CDC goes on to say that the second leading cause of lung cancer is radon which is a naturally occurring gas that comes from rocks and dirt and can get trapped in houses and buildings. In addition people can also be exposed to substances at work that could increase their chances of developing lung or other types of cancer such asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust, formaldehyde and some forms of silica and chromium.  Some of these same substances may also be present in people’s homes and communities, especially asbestos and radon.

For many people who develop lung cancer, there are often few if any signs of the disease until it has advanced and spread, so it is important to prevent exposure to known airborne carcinogens at home and in the workplace to minimize the threat of developing this type of cancer.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestos a related disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

 

Filed Under: Asbestos Mesothelioma
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