The Dangers of Asbestos and the Cover Up

How Was I Exposed to Asbestos? Common Sources of Exposure

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Common ways people are exposed to asbestos include:

  • Working in high-risk industries like construction, manufacturing, or shipyards
  • Living in or renovating older homes with asbestos-containing materials
  • Exposure in schools or public buildings built before the 1980s
  • Secondary exposure from someone who worked with asbestos

If you were just diagnosed with mesothelioma, your doctor probably told you that asbestos exposure is the most likely cause.

Most people get exposed to asbestos by inhaling contaminated air.

Inhaling these dangerous microscopic particles repeatedly over a long period of time can lead to illnesses like mesothelioma. For those of you who were just diagnosed, it’s likely due to asbestos exposure from decades ago.

So how exactly did you get exposed to asbestos? Read on to learn more about the most common locations of asbestos exposure, so you can determine which one was the most likely cause for you.

Why It’s Important to Identify Where You Were Exposed to Asbestos

Tracing where your asbestos exposure occurred is an important step after a mesothelioma diagnosis. In many cases, exposure happened decades before symptoms appeared, often in the workplace or environment that was once considered safe.

Understanding the source of your exposure may help you determine whether you are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. The source can dictate where that compensation comes from, even if it’s from a previous employer that’s gone out of business.

Figuring out how you were exposed to asbestos can also help protect others, including family members or coworkers who may have been exposed in the same environment. You can warn them of the risk and encourage early screenings to improve their treatment options.

Asbestos Exposure in the Workplace

Many people were exposed to asbestos at work. If you spent the last 40 years working in a dangerous location where asbestos was present, there’s a good chance that inhaling those fibers is what caused your mesothelioma diagnoses.

According to the CDC, the following business types have historically been the most the most dangerous for asbestos exposure at work:

  • Automotive repair (particularly for brakes and clutches)
  • Construction
  • Shipyards, shipping, and shipbuilders
  • Steel manufacturing
  • Tire installation
  • Power plants
  • Railroads
  • Oil refineries
  • Maritime companies
  • Mining

Beyond these industries, specific occupations also increase your risk of being exposed to asbestos. If you worked as a boilermaker, bricklayer, carpenter, building inspector, painter, roofer, plumber, pipe fitter, or welder, you may have been exposed to asbestos.

Even though the use of asbestos products declined significantly in the late 1980s, workers were still exposed by working on products and in environments that already had asbestos.

Today, the most common place of asbestos exposure in the US is for people working in construction trades (according to the CDC).

Asbestos Exposure in Homes

Asbestos was commonly used in building materials over the years. So people living in older buildings are at a higher risk of exposure.

Around the house, it’s common for asbestos and asbestos containing products to be found in:

  • Insulation
  • Older pipes
  • Floor tiles
  • Roofing
  • Ceiling materials
  • Siding
  • Heating systems

Asbestos is most dangerous when it’s disturbed and microscopic fibers are released into the air.

If you decide to tear out the tiles in your bathroom while doing some home updates, do you know what you’re really dealing with? Outdated building materials may still put you in danger the same way that old lead paint poses serious health problems, even though modern paint has not contained lead for decades.

Asbestos Exposure in Schools

Schools can also contain asbestos in all of the areas where you find them in homes (insulation, piping, roofing, ceilings, floor tiles, etc.).

This means that people can be exposed to asbestos in schools in:

  • Classrooms
  • Offices
  • College dorm rooms
  • Hallways
  • Gyms and locker rooms

Basically, any school or college campus that was built before the 1980s can have asbestos and pose a risk for asbestos exposure if it’s disturbed.

Other Ways People Get Exposed to Asbestos

Working in certain occupations and being in older homes or schools are the most common causes of asbestos exposure. But there are some other ways that you also could have been exposed, including:

There are more ways to be exposed to asbestos than many people realize.

Your Options After Asbestos Exposure

As you can see, exposure may come from more sources than you first assumed. People considered asbestos a very safe and useful building material before discovering the risks, so it saw widespread use. No matter how you got exposed to it, make sure you know what options you have now that you need to deal with mesothelioma and complicated medical treatment plans.

Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

Talc Lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson to pay $29 million in mesothelioma case

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In December 2018, documents came to light showing that Johnson & Johnson has long had concerns about its talc-based products containing small amounts of asbestos. Some of these concerns date as far back as the 1970s. Now, the company is facing more than 13,000 lawsuits from consumers who claim to have been harmed by those products. Louisville residents might be interested to learn that one of those lawsuits has ended in a $29.4 million settlement.

The plaintiff was a California woman who claimed that the J&J baby powder she used regularly in the 1960s and 1970s had caused her to develop mesothelioma. She was diagnosed with this asbestos-related cancer in 2017. The jury awarded her the $29.4 million settlement after determining that the products were indeed defective.

J&J says it will be appealing the judgment because the conclusions were based on “serious procedural and evidentiary errors.” Pointing out that jury verdicts are not the same as scientific, medical or regulatory conclusions about a product, it denies that its talc powder contains asbestos or is responsible for health problems.

Besides mesothelioma, the use of J&J baby powder has been linked to cases of ovarian cancer. In 2018, 22 women were awarded $4.7 billion in a lawsuit against J&J. More than $4 billion of that consisted of punitive damages.

Those who develop an asbestos-related illness because of a dangerous consumer product may want to meet with an attorney to learn more about the recourse that they might have. In some cases, an advisable course might be to file a products liability lawsuit against the manufacturer.

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson facing multiple investigations

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Kentucky residents who used baby powder made by Johnson & Johnson may have been exposed to asbestos. There are roughly 13,000 plaintiffs with claims against the company, and it is also under investigation by multiple government agencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department have both issued subpoenas after juries awarded millions to plaintiffs in California and New Jersey.

In addition, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is also conducting an investigation into what the company may have known. Johnson & Johnson issued a statement saying that the investigations were based on information that was not accurate. Furthermore, it claims that news reports withheld information that is already available to the public. It further claims that lab testing over several decades has proven that its baby powder is safe to use.

The company’s stock price fell 1.4 percent in reaction to the news. Johnson & Johnson’s stock fell 17 percent after reports about asbestos in its baby powder first came out. According to the senate committee member, there is concern that the company may have tried to mislead the public and cover up evidence of potential harm to consumers. Both men and women could face health issues if they used the product.

Individuals who were exposed to asbestos in the home or at work may be at a higher risk of cancer or other health issues. An attorney may help a person show a direct link between health ailments and exposure to asbestos. This may be done by obtaining lab tests, calling expert witnesses or reviewing a plaintiff’s medical records. If a claim is successful, an individual may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other related costs.

medical diligence

Working with asbestos requires a lifetime of medical diligence

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Working certain jobs means incurring different levels of risk for injuries and illnesses. People who drive all day as part of their job have an increased risk for experiencing a motor vehicle collision. Those who have worked as shingle manufacturers, roofers, insulation professionals or in pipe fitting, construction and a host of other careers, have a specific concern that they will have to be mindful of for the rest of their lives.

Unlike certain occupational risks, like falls from a height, the risk in this situation does not end when someone leaves a job. Instead, it could take years or decades for the person to even know they have an issue. The risk here is mesothelioma related to asbestos exposure. Individuals exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma or other serious medical conditions related to asbestos.

Simply ending the exposure will not decrease someone’s overall risk for developing these conditions. Instead, workers who found themselves exposed to asbestos in their career will need to monitor themselves for the symptoms of mesothelioma for the rest of their lives.

Mesothelioma is deadly, but it takes a long time to grow

Many of the deadliest cancers are fast growing. Individuals may barely have time to recognize their symptoms before the cancer progresses to higher and more difficult-to-treat stages. Mesothelioma, on the other hand, can take several decades to develop.

People can find themselves suddenly showing early symptoms of lung issues 20 or 30 years later. Because of how long it takes for mesothelioma to develop in those exposed to asbestos, constant vigilance from them, their loved ones and their medical professionals is necessary.

No one who has had workplace exposure to asbestos should assume they have a clean bill of health just because they have gone many years without medical issues. They should still watch for issues with breathing, pain in the chest or back, and other symptoms associated with mesothelioma.

Even if the company is out of business, you still have rights

A common concern for individuals facing a diagnosis of mesothelioma is the fact that their former employer is no longer in business. Many companies only last for the lifetime of one executive. Others end up going out of business because of improper practices or lawsuits from former employees.

Just because a company is no longer in operation doesn’t mean that you don’t still have the right to compensation. It just means that you may have to take a few extra steps to connect with the compensation that you deserve.

Speaking with an attorney who has a thorough understanding of mesothelioma cases and the rights of those exposed to asbestos at work in Kentucky is a good first step. An attorney can likely connect you with resources and evaluate your case for strengths. From compensation funds to lawsuits, there are many options available to those reeling from an unexpected mesothelioma diagnosis.

Stage 4 mesothelioma

Stage 4 mesothelioma: symptoms, treatments

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Pleural mesothelioma, caused by the inhalation of asbestos into the lungs, has four stages with stage 4 being the final and deadliest. At this stage, the malignant mesothelioma tumors have spread beyond their point of origin into the chest walls, the bones and perhaps several organs, including the liver, prostate and lining of the heart. Louisville residents should know that the median life expectancy for those with stage 4 mesothelioma is 12 months.

The symptoms of stage 4 mesothelioma include shortness of breath, pain in the chest and abdomen, chronic fatigue and difficulty swallowing. Patients may experience severe weight loss, muscle atrophy and anemia. They may also cough up blood or build up fluids in the chest and abdomen.

Stage 4 mesothelioma is difficult to treat because patients are usually too weak to withstand aggressive surgeries. Surgeons, while unable to remove all tumors, may remove those that are affecting breathing and causing pain. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are also possible. Many patients receive palliative care and sometimes defy the odds, living for several years longer than doctors projected.

There is no official stage 4 for peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the protective lining of the abdomen and composes roughly 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Once the tumors have spread from the lining, though, treatment becomes just as difficult as with stage 4 pleural mesothelioma.

Many develop mesothelioma through the use of products containing asbestos and through exposure to asbestos in old buildings. Workers with the condition may file for workers’ compensation benefits, which cover medical expenses as well as a percentage of lost wages. If someone’s negligence was to blame for their exposure, victims may instead file a personal injury claim. This is where having a lawyer to consult with might be beneficial. Victims may let their lawyer handle all negotiations.

Why You Should Hire Satterley & Kelley, PLLC for Your Asbestos Case

If you’re diagnosed with mesothelioma or a family member died because of it, you may be entitled to compensation for what you’ve endured.

You need a law firm with experience representing victims taking legal action against the asbestos industry. Satterley & Kelley lawyers have helped mesothelioma victims for more than 20 years.

We have relationships with the best experts in the world to assist us in proving not only what caused your injury but the physical, emotional, psychological, and financial harm you suffered.

Our attorneys will give your case the full investigation it deserves. We never assume your case will settle, so we don’t take shortcuts. Every mesothelioma case is unique. Satterley & Kelley will carefully analyze the facts of your case and decide on and execute an effective strategy that can provide you with the most compensation possible.

Your Local Mesothelioma Law Firm 

If you or a loved one are diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you should understand your rights to compensation and how exercise them.

Experienced Satterley & Kelley’s, PLLC, asbestos injury lawyers can discuss your situation and help you recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured. Schedule a free initial consultation at our Louisville office by calling us toll-free at 855-385-9532 or completing our online contact form today.

talc-based products

Lawsuits allege J&J knew asbestos contaminated its products

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Kentucky consumers might have been exposed to asbestos when using talc products like baby powder sold by Johnson & Johnson. Multiple lawsuits have accused the consumer care products company of knowingly selling talc products contaminated with asbestos. Over a dozen new trials have been scheduled in 2019 against the company that has already been targeted by 11,700 lawsuits involving unsafe products.

The plaintiff in a trial that recently began opening arguments suffers from mesothelioma, a type of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. Internal documents from Johnson & Johnson have come to light that indicate the company knew about asbestos appearing in tests of raw and finished talc powders from the 1970s through the 2000s. This trial also names a mining company, Imerys Talc America, as a co-defendant. A lawyer for Imerys insisted that the evidence would prove that the talc was free of asbestos and did not result in the plaintiff’s disease.

The legal team representing the person with mesothelioma has succeeded previously against Johnson & Johnson. A jury verdict in April 2018 awarded a victim $117 million. Johnson & Johnson has pledged to appeal that decision and fight all cases claiming asbestos contamination.

Victims of toxic exposures often face denials of responsibility when seeking damages for cancer or other fatal diseases. The representation of a lawyer knowledgeable about collecting evidence related to asbestos in the home or on the job might pressure a company into paying for medical care and other damages.

Source: Reuters, “Latest trial in J&J talc litigations gets under way in California“, Tina Bellon, Jan. 7, 2019