The “non-ban asbestos ban” continues to confound critics. No one is disputing the dangers of exposure to the carcinogen. Asbestos-related diseases kill 15,000 Americans annually. The not-so-grand total dating back to 1989 is one million. Ironically, that was the year of a failed ban on asbestos by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
How have federal officials responded?
Internationally renowned thoracic surgeon Dr. Robert Cameron was the first to propose a National Mesothelioma Registry. Twenty years later, he finds himself in an unlikely role.
Opponent.
Thirty years ago this past month – specifically July 12, 1989 –the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned most products that contained asbestos. Initially, it was a product introduced as innovative for its durability and fire resistance. It’s use gained prominence in construction materials, pipes, fertilizer and car parts throughout the 1900s and peaked in the 1970s.
The ban represented a milestone in acknowledging asbestos’ deadly dangers and the carcinogen’s role in fatal diagnoses of mesothelioma. Two years later, the decision was overturned and replaced by partial bans and restrictions. Manufacturing continues to this day.
If you or someone in your family are presently a factory worker or have been employed in a manufacturing industry in the past, you may be among those in Illinois and throughout the country who are at risk for certain injuries. Many blue-collar jobs, including those that involve shipyards, railroads, automotive construction or repair, as well as public service work such as fire-fighting, are high-risk positions for asbestos-related injuries.
The problem with asbestos is that it is microscopic, so unless your employer informs you of its presence, you may have no way of knowing that it's in the air. There's no safe amount of asbestos exposure. However, if you or your loved one have been exposed and contracted an asbestos-related disease, it might be months or even years before you realize you're ill.
Clarence Borel was an insulator who contracted mesothelioma and asbestosis after 33 years of asbestos exposure. His lawsuit filed in October of 1969 against multiple asbestos insulation manufacturers is considered the first victory for a plaintiff. Following the case being upheld in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, asbestos lawsuits filled the dockets of courts across the country.
Asbestos-related lawsuits are about to commemorate a tragic 50th anniversary. Already facing thousands of legal actions, the standard-bearer for healthcare products may be facing more serious consequences, potentially in criminal court.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, once said, “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
For those suffering serious diseases caused by asbestos exposure, they may very well live to fight another day. All thanks to a specific breed of dog with olfactory abilities that surpass all other canines and is 10,000 times stronger than humans.
The deadly effects of breathing in asbestos is a universally accepted fact. The countless number of people worldwide suffering from fatal diseases caused by the fibers continue to grow. In response to the health crisis, nations throughout the world have responded with outright bans on the use or importation of the cancer-causing carcinogen. Yet, one country continues its confounding holdout.
The United States.
Claire’s asbestos-related woes continue. The retailer is already residing under a microscope after significant levels of asbestos were found in three of their products marketed to teen and tween girls two years ago. The chain also emerged from bankruptcy towards the end of last year, discharging $1.9 billion in debt and looking for a fresh start.
JoJo Silwa, a popular YouTube and Nickelodeon star, launched a line of cosmetics sold on Claire’s shelves. At the tender age of 16 and with a net worth of approximately $12 million, she has established a merchandise empire that also includes bedroom décor, shoes, hair bows, dolls, clothes, and backpacks. Those products are prominently displayed at Target, Payless, and JC Penney.
Early detection of a disease can mean the difference between recovering and surviving or suffering and dying. For those diagnosed with mesothelioma, they face a particularly grim and uncertain future. The illness caused by asbestos has a 50-year latency period from the time of exposure and few symptoms that are specific.
Diagnosis usually does not come until the illness is in the advanced stages.
You might be one of many Illinois residents who hear the word 'asbestos' and think of insulation hanging in an old attic somewhere. The fact is that serious danger risks still exist, and in many cases, are much more prevalent than people realize regarding asbestos and potential injuries that can occur from exposure.
If you grew up in a blue-collar family, you or someone you love may have worked in a factory, mill or shipyard at some point. While these aren't the only places where asbestos danger tends to be high, if you or someone in your household has worked in such industries and are experiencing health problems, you may want to discuss the possibility of asbestos injury with your doctor.
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