Recently I was contacted by an employee at Lanier Law, litigators for the many victims exposed to asbestos over the years. While most of us know asbestos was an issue in older homes and buildings constructed before 1990, you might be shocked to know it’s still around. Lanier Law are also advocators for spreading knowledge and passing bans on its continued use and import practices. In this post I’ve summarized a few points from the guides (see links below) created to educate the public.
What is Asbestos and Why is it Dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that has been used in more than 3,000 different products. Its use continued long after the industry became aware of its dangers…
…Asbestos is a mineral that was used for many years across a wide variety of industries due to its stability and resistance to heat. It tends to break easily into fibers, which can be extremely tiny—so tiny that they can’t be seen, felt, or even smelled when they’re suspended in the air.
Asbestos fibers are naturally long, thin, and sharp. When inhaled, they can become embedded into the lung tissue and work their way into the surrounding pleura. They may also be coughed up and swallowed. They are so chemically stable that even stomach acid can’t destroy it, and the fibers can embed themselves into the digestive tract and may work their way through into the surrounding peritoneum.
Asbestos is particularly insidious because it can be present without the knowledge of those exposed. The fibers are microscopic, and there are no known warning signs that point to potential asbestos exposure. Instead, the fibers quietly lodge themselves deeply into body tissues, where they cause damage for decades until the victim becomes irreversibly and fatally ill.
Lanier Law
Where Does Asbestos Come From?
According to Asbestos.com:
Asbestos naturally forms underground in certain kinds of rocks, often close to fault zones. Some rocks feature visible veins of asbestos running through them. This can look like white or yellowish patterns cutting through the rock.
Why is Asbestos Still an Issue?
because the United States does not ban the use of asbestos, certain new products can still contain asbestos if it meets specific criteria.
The EPA banned most uses of asbestos in 1989, but intense lobbying efforts by the asbestos industry resulted in this being overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1991. In 2022, the EPA proposed a ban on the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos, which it expects to finalize in October 2023.
Lanier Law
Where is Asbestos Still Lurking?
Although the use of asbestos has declined with the knowledge of the health risks, it is still around especially in imported:
- household items and appliances
- schools and other older buildings
- building construction products
- gardening products
- toys
- cosmetics
- automotive parts
What is Mesothelioma?
The mesothelium is the lining in several of our internal organs; mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer within this lining, predominantly (80% of cases) in the lungs. To a lesser degree, it can also show up in the peritoneum (abdominal area). That much I remember from my medical background. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of mesothelioma drastically but the delay between exposure and the appearance of cancer is significant, between twenty and forty years! Also significant is the fact that up to 3000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed annually in the USA alone.
Links on Asbestos
I was provided with the following two very informative links from Lanier Law that describe the ongoing issues with asbestos:
Products and Materials Containing Asbestos
Recognizing and Reducing the Risks of Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma
Here are additional links, provided by asbestos.com, to read up on how to recognize and reduce the risks of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma:
And another, from Gori Law, explaining why seniors are at risk:
Conclusions
Please read all of the information within the links above to educate yourself.
If you think about it, the majority of us born before 1980 were most likely exposed to high concentrations, meaning most of us are at risk of developing mesothelioma at some point in our lives.
We all should be aware that the use of asbestos has not been banned in many countries, so any items we import is most likely contaminated. This fact is one more reason we should buy local!
If you are experiencing symptoms (details in the links) of mesothelioma, help is available. The Lanier Law Firm has experienced mesothelioma lawyers in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston serving clients nationwide within the USA.
