Mesothelioma Cancer BLOG - Cappolino, Dodd & Krebs, LLP » Asbestosis

Companies knew asbestos was dangerous in the 1930s

Richard Stone — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:46:54 +0000

In 1933, the Johns-Manville Company settled with an attorney on behalf of 11 former Manville employees, all asbestosis victims. The attorney received $30,000 for the victims, in exchange for a written promise that he would not “directly or indirectly participate in the bringing of new actions against the Corporation.”

This fact did not come to light for more than 45 years. In the meantime, the company was able successfully to avoid damage suits. Had the public known about this settlement, it is likely that the hazards of asbestos would have come to light decades earlier.

Companies like Alcoa that used asbestos in its daily manufacturing processes have denied knowing that asbestos exposure could be a danger to those who worked closely with the mineral. In fact, these companies have managed to set the late-1960s as the benchmark for when they could have known about the dangers of asbestos — nearly 40 years later!

Asbestos has been linked to mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly form of cancer. It is difficult to diagnose and symptoms often take 20-30 years to manifest. Usually, by the time symptoms show up, it is too late to save the patient.

Major new study of Libby asbestos contamination begins

Richard Stone — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:05:27 +0000

If you attended Montana’s Libby High School between 1950 and 1999, and then moved away, asbestos researchers are looking for you.

Researchers are asking these people to submit to tests to help determine the extent of contamination caused by asbestos mining and processing in the northwestern Montana town. Libby has emerged as the deadliest Superfund site in the nation.

The study by the Center for Asbestos Related Disease will focus on low-level childhood asbestos exposure, compare exposure of Libby asbestos to that of more common commercial forms, and examine the presence of autoimmune disorders like lupus.

Other potential disorders include asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Navy vets at-risk for mesothelioma cancer

Richard Stone — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:12:24 +0000

Of all occupations exposed to asbestos, naval veterans account for 30 percent of all mesothelioma cancer patients.

That’s just one way of saying more than 30 percent of Americans suffering with mesothelioma (a cancer of the internal lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart) were exposed to asbestos during their military or naval service.

Veterans who served up to the 1970s have a great risk of developing asbestosis, cancer and other related disease. And, for Navy personnel and workers employed in shipyards through the 1970s, the risk for developing a disease caused by asbestos exposure is even greater.

Veterans with an asbestos related illness should contact a veteran’s service officer and file their claims. It is important you select a VSO who will think outside of the VA box, especially on these type conditions.

The veteran must provide proof that their disease is asbestos related and that exposure occurred during military service. The burden of proof is always on the veteran, in this case, due to mind sets, the proof is difficult even though it is totally obvious.

The Department of Veteran Affairs recognizes asbestos as well as mesothelioma as a service connected disability.