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Asbestos
companies knew about the dangers of asbestos for many years
before warning the public of the risks.
They have
been compared to tobacco companies, knowing more about
the harm than the readily admitted to. Since people who work
around asbestos cannot see the fibers, years of exposure passed
without the workers ever knowing they were surrounded by it.
The air they were breathingin was full of fibers. The fibers
are extremely toxic and dangerous and they "hook"
themselves into the lining of the lungs or other parts of
the respiratory tract. Once in the body the fibers remain
there forever since there is no way to get them out. The long
exposure to the asbestos resulted in illnesses including mesothelioma.
By
the year 2030 there are estimates that asbestos
will have caused 60,000 instances of mesothelioma
and around 250,000 other cancers that result in death.
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Companies
being sued for their asbestos use are now trying to place
the blame on SV40. SV40 comes from the 1950-1960s when
a polio vaccine was created. The virus to make the vaccine
was cultured in monkey kidneys so monkeys were brought over
from Africa for this reason. The monkeys were carrying Simian
Virus 40 that made its way into the poliovirus that was administered
for humans. That is when SV40 first entered humans.
It
has been suggested in recent research that SV40 may increase
the chances of developing mesothelioma. These claims are
controversial and there is a lot of skepticism regarding this
matter. So far asbestos defendants have failed using SV40
as their scapegoat from asbestos caused mesothelioma. About
4,000 people per year die from mesothelioma.
The
rate of cases reported in the U.S. each year has been on the
rise since 1980. This reflects the 20-40 year latency period
for asbestos exposure and disease development. The disease
affects men with 80% of all mesothelioma sufferers. This is
explained by asbestos
A
fibrous mineral in asbestos
products is found in the ground and is mined all over
the world.
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exposure
in manufacturing processes and different trades and industries,
such as building, construction, shipbuilding, railroad, and
automotive industries, whichare mainly composed of men.
Chrysotile
asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma in the U.S.
Asbestos has been used for over 2,000 years, and its greatest
use was in the 1930-60s for insulation in buildings and homes,
building ships, and auto repair. Asbestos was widely found
until it was banned in 1986 by the Environmental Protection
Agency. It still remains in old building and ships from before
1987.
If
you, or someone you know, has been exposed to asbestos and
would like to know the legal rights involved, please feel
free to contact us.
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