It may surprise many people to learn that almost one-third of all reported cases of mesothelioma involve veterans of the military. Primarily, those in the U.S. Navy who served aboard ships and in shipyards were most affected. This is because asbestos, the fiber that has been linked to causing mesothelioma, was heavily utilized in the shipping industry.
Ex-shipyard employee compensated for asbestos-related cancer
An 85-year-old ex-shipyard worker has been awarded undisclosed compensation for lung cancer he developed as a result of years of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. He complained about trouble breathing in January of this year, and was later diagnosed with lung cancer. The cancer was the end result of his prolonged exposure to asbestos during approximately 40 years laboring in various shipyards. Employees subjected to asbestos in the workplace in North Carolina, as elsewhere, often contract debilitating illnesses as a result and may be entitled to workers' compensation.
Man dies from asbestos-related disease
People can suffer from a number of devastating and fatal diseases after being exposed to asbestos. Besides mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the linings of the lungs, people can also suffer from asbestosis, lung cancers and pleural plaque. Many of these diseases are very aggressive. In the event that a person dies from an asbestos-related disease, families may be able to file a wrongful death against the party responsible for exposure.
Historic buildings are common sources of asbestos and lead
Lead and asbestos hazards are commonly found in historic buildings in North Carolina and throughout the United States. Yet another historic building was closed after an assessment of mold, asbestos and lead detected hazardous levels. The Lexington, Kentucky, courthouse was built in 1898 and is located in the heart of the city. The building, which was the Fayette County court for nearly a century, houses the Lexington Public Safety Museum, the Lexington History Museum and the Kentucky Renaissance Pharmacy Museum.
After the cleanup: Plants grow on former vermiculite plant site
One town in Montana has had a long-standing reputation for being an asbestos haven. The town was once the site of a vermiculite plant that released lethal doses of asbestos in the air for years. At least 400 people in the town died as a result of the exposure to the airborne asbestos produced by the factory. Years later, though, residents are happy to see the results of a 12-year cleanup project on the site.
Navy resumes sinking old warships, despite environmental concerns
For decades, men and women signed up for the Navy without knowing how their service would affect their health years later. Across the country, veterans of the Navy are getting sick and dying from lung cancers and asbestosis that can be linked, often, to working in ships with asbestos-laden materials.
Buyer beware: Asbestos being put back on the market
When a company chooses profits over safety, the public is ultimately the tragic victim. Unsafe or dangerous products that put people at risk of developing a deadly disease should be pulled from the market immediately. However, in a strange and dangerous move, the Quebec government has decided to allow one town to continue shipping asbestos.
Asbestos exposure: It's a royal pain
Workers who were employed as independent contractors or subcontractors, or those who lived or worked near a factory, may be able to file a lawsuit against a third party for exposure to asbestos. In many states in the United States, employees cannot sue an employer for mesothelioma or other job-related illnesses. However, it could be a good idea to file a premises liability lawsuit against property owners when a person is exposed to asbestos.
