Asbestos Cases

Over the past decades, there have been thousands of cases of damage to individuals who worked with asbestos in the past.  The substance is known to cause the serious form of cancer called mesothelioma, which may take years to develop.  Other serious physical damage such as lung, larynx or stomach cancer can result.  There are a variety of non-malignant diseases that can affect exposed individuals such as asbestosis or pulmonary respiratory disease.  There are approximately 10,000 asbestos-related deaths every year in the U.S.  This substance is so dangerous and toxic that one would assume that it would be outlawed. 

Is Asbestos Outlawed in the U.S.?

At one point, it was decided by the EPA that it would be banned and a phase out of asbestos use began.  However, this ban was challenged in court in 1990, and now there are restrictions in place about how much asbestos exposure is allowed, which is currently .1 asbestos fiber per cubic centimeter of air for an 8-hour workday.  It is not likely that an individual would notice if the amount exceeded this allowed exposure, and the question remains about the safety of any asbestos getting into the body.  The EPA has consistently maintained that any asbestos exposure at all is unsafe.  However, this substance affects vast numbers of existing buildings, including homes, schools, hospitals and other structures. 

When a family member is suffering from an asbestos-related disease, it is important that you contact a law firm that is knowledgeable about claims related to asbestos.  There often is extensive research necessary to determine where the exposure occurred, as the disease may show itself years after the exposure occurred.  Firms that are skilled and experienced with these claims are aware of how to go about investigating the source of the exposure.  In many cases, the exposure happened in many locations, as asbestos was in constant use at one time.  Even now, the substance is still used in commercial products, and the consumer or worker may be unaware that they are currently being exposed to asbestos.