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.
