A non-profit environmental group reported earlier this month that scientists have discovered the presence of asbestos in children’s toys manufactured in China and on the market in the United States. It was a report that alarmed many parents and one that has them searching through toy boxes and craft bins to avoid encounters with the toxic mineral.
To many who’ve been touched by asbestos in some way or another, we tend to think of it as an invention of the 20th century; a new-fangled material that has caused plenty of damage. But that’s far from the truth…
A naturally-occurring mineral that is found in many parts of the world, asbestos was discovered centuries ago and has long been considered a miracle material. Best known for its excellent heat- and fire-resistant properties, it has a history that is believed to date all the way back to the ancient Greek island of Ewoia, where the first asbestos mine was located. (The word “asbestos” comes from a Greek word meaning “inextinguishable.”)
Asbestos has long been used as a building material, even as far back as during the Holy Roman Empire. In addition, it was used to produce fabric that was employed in the creation of clothing and a variety of other textiles. Legend has it that an early Roman emperor was awed by the fact that he could throw his asbestos tablecloth into the fire after particularly messy meals and it would emerge clean and unharmed. It was also used to wrap the dead in early Egypt because it was believed that it would last for centuries to come.
However, even the early civilizations surmised that asbestos was the cause of the pulmonary problems being exhibited by those who worked in the mines where asbestos was extracted or by those who spun and wove asbestos into fabric. In particular, Roman philosopher and naturalist Pliny the Elder noted that slaves who mined asbestos suffered from a sickness of the lungs and died at an early age. He recommended that no one hire those who had been employed in the mines. Nonetheless, asbestos use continued.
When the Industrial Revolution came to pass, the material enjoyed all sorts of new uses in factories and plants throughout the U.S. and abroad. Asbestos found its way into oil and chemical refineries, steel mills, was used in railroad cars, and in shipyards. Asbestos materials were used to insulate pipes and boilers in steam locomotives, to line tanks and ovens in refineries and mills, and could be found literally everywhere aboard the nation’s ships, from engine rooms to galleys. Tens of thousands of workers would soon be exposed on a daily basis and many would later begin to experience the same problems as those miners of long ago.
As the twentieth century progressed, more and more uses for asbestos were found. It was used in the brakes and clutches of automobiles, insulated America’s new skyscrapers, and especially found much popularity in the construction industry, where it was used in items like cement, roof shingles, floor and ceiling tiles, siding, stucco, plaster, and more.
By the middle of the 1900s, the evidence of health problems associated with asbestos exposure was again becoming clear. Company doctors were warning owners/managers of the risks of its continued use. Among the most affected were Navy veterans and shipyard employees but others who worked with asbestos regularly, like those employed in steel mills and other industries, were showing high rates of asbestosis and mesothelioma as well.
Eventually, tales of sick employees became commonplace and concerned officials finally sat up and listened in the 1970s, causing the American government to consider imposing laws about the use of asbestos. They finally did this in the latter part of that decade, though asbestos has NEVER been officially banned in the U.S., despite the fact that the use of the mineral has been outlawed in more than four dozen countries.
From the Post-Gazette.com:
Asbestos continues to kill residents of Allegheny County and Pennsylvania at rates much higher than the national average and in greater numbers nationally than previously thought, according to a new report by the Environmental Working Group Action Fund.
The report found that an estimated 14,216 people died from asbestos-related diseases from 1999 to 2013 in Pennsylvania, and the state is one of six — along with Maine, West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware and Montana — that have asbestos-related death rates 50 to 100 percent above the national average.
Read More at Post-Gazette.com
The duties of a millwright probably include those tasks that many people take for granted. For example, when one has the opportunity to observe a shiny new factory, a refinery, a steel plant, or something similar, it’s usually in a state of completion and ready to run. However, it’s the nation’s millwrights that are largely responsible for putting together those operations.
In the early days, a millwright was a tradesman who worked on watermills and windmills, mostly with wood. It was from these duties that the millwright got his name. Millwrights of the Industrial Revolution often found themselves toiling in textile mills. As the 20th century rolled in, these craftsmen were charged with the tasks of working with steel and other metals/materials to install industrial machinery or to assemble that machinery from pre-fabricated parts. These machines might include escalators, conveyor systems, turbines, generators, and more.
You’ll find millwrights in a variety of industries, including:
• Steel mills
• Refineries
• Assembly plants
• Power stations
• Print shops
• Mining operations
Millwrights undergo a great deal of training for their trade and must be skilled in reading blueprints and schematics. These days, millwrights also take several courses in safety. Perhaps those courses would have come in handy during the years when asbestos was in use.
Millwrights and Asbestos Exposure
In the years before about 1975, many of the parts millwrights used in the assembly of heavy machinery were made of asbestos, coated with it, or contained asbestos materials. These included items such as gaskets, valves, and insulation. On the job, they may have also come in contact with other items containing asbestos, such as asbestos tiles or asbestos-containing plaster, cement, or drywall.
Millwrights often used tools that may have compromised the asbestos materials. Grinders, blow torches, welding rods – all of those tools most likely damaged or altered the asbestos materials in a way that caused toxic dust to permeate the air. But because it was necessary for the millwright’s work to be exacting, tight fit was essential as was fireproofing, and asbestos was hardly ever left the way it was found.
Furthermore, when millwrights were charged with the task of repair or removal of machinery containing asbestos, more exposure occurred. Anyone in the vicinity of such work may have inhaled dangerous dust when insulation was stripped from a boiler, for example, or coated materials had to be forcibly removed.
Why Weren’t Millwrights Protected?
As with other occupations exposed to asbestos on-the-job, millwrights were often “sold a bill of goods”, so to speak. For decades, workers were told that asbestos was safe, despite the fact that lawsuits from recent years have uncovered memos from company doctors noting disturbing health problems among those who were exposed to the toxic mineral on a regular basis.
As such, millwrights thought nothing of working in tight, poorly-ventilated spaces where asbestos was present. Often, they went home with the dust on their hair and clothes, exposing their families to asbestos as well.
Furthermore, even when more evidence became available about the dangers of asbestos, millwrights were not provided with respirators or any other sort of protective clothing while working. The result was a generation or two of millwrights who have already developed asbestosis or mesothelioma, or may still be likely to be diagnosed with some sort of asbestos-caused illness.
If you or a loved one was a millwright and are now suffering from mesothelioma, it’s time to learn more about legal rights for compensation. Many millwrights have already been compensated for their injuries. It’s your turn!
While compiling a list of tradesmen and tradeswomen most likely to have been exposed to asbestos, there are many that immediately rise to the top of the list. Insulators, pipefitters, electricians, steel workers, shipbuilders – all of those seem the most logical occupations connected to asbestos and asbestos-related diseases. But dig a little deeper and one might come up with other workers who were regularly exposed to the toxic mineral but may not have – over the years – received as much attention. Welders fall into that category, and a welders asbestos exposure risk is still severe.
A well-trained firefighter is taught, first and foremost, to respect a fire. He/she is well educated in the important ins and outs of fighting a blaze. Safety is number one, firefighters are told, though we are all familiar with stories about hero firefighters who defy those flames to save a trapped individual or perhaps even a family dog or cat.
It’s obvious that firefighters put their lives on the line every day. Fire and smoke carry with them many dangers and both can cause injury or death in an instant.
What the general public might not know, however, is that another less-obvious danger lurks inside thousands of buildings throughout the U.S., and when those buildings burn, firefighters face yet another ominous hazard…asbestos is a hidden danger for firefighters.
Asbestos was used widely in the construction of all types of buildings during the first three-quarters of the twentieth century, especially in commercial buildings but also in homes.
The toxic mineral was long heralded for its amazing heat and fire resistance as well as its durability, so manufacturers used it in thousands of products. In homes, offices, and factories, asbestos may be found in floor and ceiling tiles, drywall, attic insulation, and shingles, or perhaps wrapped around pipes, boilers, and electrical wiring.
When asbestos is in new or good condition and has not been disturbed, it does not generally present a health concern. But if a building containing asbestos is burning, firefighters need to be sure they are protected from inhaling the toxic fibers that will undoubtedly circulate through the air. It is this dust that can eventually cause mesothelioma cancer to develop.
That’s why fire departments should demand the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), essential for firefighter safety, especially when older buildings are involved. Not only should the gear be worn during fire suppression – the actual fighting of the fire, but also during after-fire overhaul and investigation when asbestos may be present in the rubble and debris that remain behind after a blaze.
Quite simply, the SCBA will provide breathable air to the firefighter and will not permit asbestos fibers or dust to enter the body through the nose or mouth. When a firefighter has completed his duties at an asbestos-containing building, the SCBA should be thoroughly cleaned.
Furthermore, the equipment should be removed at the scene of the blaze or investigation so that fibers do not spread to other locations and other individuals.
Unfortunately, there have been cases where these precautions were not followed and firefighters were exposed to friable asbestos. For example, a few years ago, firefighters in Everett, Washington filed suit against the city for exposing them to asbestos via old homes used for training exercises.
The firefighters had been told that the buildings were asbestos-free and, as a result, will now live with the possibility that they inhaled toxic dust while training for their profession.
If you or a family member has served as a firefighter, paid or volunteer, and were exposed to asbestos materials on the job, take time to learn about your legal rights today. Consult an experienced attorney to review your options.
Being an electrician is a “high voltage” job, so to speak. Anyone who has worked in the field – or plans to work in the field – knows that they have to have a “respect” for electricity. The utmost care must be taken when electricity is part of the picture, and details must be checked once, twice, and even three times to avoid any chance of electrocution.
“He gave his life for his country.” That’s a phrase Americans have been using for centuries. From the first simple shots of the Revolutionary War to the more sophisticated warfare of the 21st century, millions of U.S. military members sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom. In many instances, they were killed in battle or perhaps during some military training exercise.
Of course, in contrast to those who died, there are countless others that survived their stint in the military, both during times of war and times of piece. Those noble veterans make us proud! What many Americans don’t know, however, is that some of those vets – who emerged seemingly unscathed – suffered the physical effects of their service in a way one might not suspect. They were poisoned by toxic asbestos.
Among all individuals in the U.S. diagnosed with mesothelioma, veterans are the group with the highest incidence of the disease. As a matter of fact, statistics show that nearly one-third of all diagnosed cases are among those who served in the U.S. military, particularly during the years from the 1940s through the late 1970s, when asbestos use aboard ships and for other military applications was at its highest. Because of mesothelioma’s long latency period, many of those veterans are only now being diagnosed with the disease.
Navy
Veterans of the U.S. Navy are the most affected by past exposure to asbestos. The toxic mineral was literally everywhere on America’s military ships of old, and whether a vet was involved in building ships or sailing aboard them, they were likely exposed on a daily basis. That’s why naval veterans account for about half of all military-related cases of mesothelioma.
Asbestos was used not only in the most logical places such as the boiler and engine rooms, but it was even found in places such as sailors’ sleeping quarters and in the mess hall. Exposure was nearly unavoidable. One could find the material in floor and ceiling files, wrapped around pipes and electrical wiring, and in valves and gaskets. When any of those materials became damaged or were worn from age, it was likely that asbestos fibers were released and could have been inhaled.
Army
Though members of the U.S. Army didn’t generally serve aboard ships, they were exposed to the asbestos materials used in a host of government buildings during and after World War II, including barracks and other structures found on bases throughout the country. Because asbestos was cheap and highly effective as a fire deterrent, it was used abundantly from the 40s through the 70s. Some old Army buildings might still contain asbestos so soldiers should always beware of materials that resemble the toxic mineral.
Marines
The U.S. Marines often worked closely with the Navy, especially during the war years of the past. Hence, those who served in the Marines may have been similarly exposed to asbestos while onboard the nation’s ships. They may have also encountered asbestos-containing materials in buildings on their base.
Air Force
Any member of the Air Force who serviced or repaired the nation’s fleet of flying machines may have been exposed to asbestos, often used as insulation or found in friction products such as brakes and clutches. In addition, as with the other branches of the military, they may have been exposed while working or dwelling in buildings on their base, which may have been constructed using asbestos-containing items such as insulation, cement, tiles, shingles, or a host of other construction products.
If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos during military service and have developed mesothelioma, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact an experienced asbestos attorney today to learn about your options.
It’s those three words everyone fears: “You have cancer.” For some, just reading those words sends shivers down the spine and evokes pictures of frightening treatments and even more frightening outcomes.
A cancer diagnosis is all too common in the U.S. The American Cancer Society says that some 1,600 Americans die each day of some form of the disease, accounting for one of every four deaths in the United States. That same research indicated some 224,000 new cases of lung cancer would be diagnosed in the U.S. for the year 2014, with about 3,000 cases of those lung-related cancers thought to be caused by exposure to asbestos.
So what happens when those fateful words are presented to you or to your loved one? How do you handle it? What do you do?
Just like those experiencing grief in regards to a death, the newly-diagnosed mesothelioma patient will manifest a variety of feelings. The first is usually disbelief. “This can’t be happening to me,” says the cancer victim. “I don’t deserve this.”
Another common feeling is denial. It’s not unusual for the new cancer patient to refuse to believe his/her diagnosis, demanding test after test to disprove the diagnosis. Denial will eventually fade, but – at the beginning – it provides the patient with the last modicum of defense against the diagnosis. “If I don’t believe it, it can’t be so,” thinks the patient.
Anger is also a normal feeling when someone is told they have cancer. In some cases, specifically with a mesothelioma diagnosis, that anger is accompanied by another common reaction – blame. The victim of asbestos-related cancer has every right to be angry and to point fingers because, quite often, their exposure to asbestos – the cause of their cancer – is due to someone else’s negligence. Angry mesothelioma victims can usually track their exposure to a former workplace where no one took time to be sure that employees were protected from airborne asbestos fibers that can later cause cancer. Undoubtedly, that negligence causes irate feelings.
Obviously, the first thing a newly-diagnosed meso patient will want to do is to find out how best to treat their illness and how to find an oncologist who can help suggest ways to extend their lives. But most cancer patients, even if surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends, may need to find professional help for issues like disbelief, denial, anger, and blame. In general, help may be needed to reduce the anxiety surrounding such a diagnosis and to learn to accept what is most likely the inevitable.
The kind of counselor chosen depends on preference. Some patients prefer a clergy person or other spiritual counselor to answer questions like “Why did God let this happen to me?” Others are searching for a medical professional they don’t yet know, feeling they can speak more freely to that person without fear of judgment. Whichever you choose, remember to take some time to talk about issues such as:
Many patients find counseling to be a godsend, so consider partaking of this option, whether you’re the patient or the caregiver. Ask your care team to recommend a counselor or psychologist if you can’t find one on your own and check with your insurance company to determine coverage for this service.