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Archive for September, 2009
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
Oxford University researchers have developed a test that they believe will give doctors the ability to diagnosis mesothelioma earlier. The results of the study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, show that a protein called meothelin is typically found to be 6 times higher in the pleural fluid of mesothelioma patients than in patients with lung cancer that has spread from other areas of the body. The protein was ten times greater in mesothelioma victims than in patients with pleural effusion resulting from benign conditions.
Pleural effusion, or fluid build up from the lining of the lungs called the pleura, is a common symptom of mesothelioma. The fluid collects in the chest and causes pressure and pain. Since the disease is so rare, many family practice physicians don’t immediately suspect mesothelioma.
Often, a patient will be given numerous rounds of antibiotics and diagnostic procedures before the disease is diagnosed—in many cases wasting precious months of treatment. The new meothelin test may help physicians to diagnose mesothelioma earlier, giving patients more mesothelioma treatment options.
Tags: mesothelioma
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
From the Pittsburg Steelers to actual steel mills and manufacturing plants, Pennsylvania is a state synonymous with industry. Sadly, it is this association with manufacturing that has contributed to the state’s unusually high number of mesothelioma deaths. Pennsylvania currently ranks third among all U.S. states in terms of number of mesothelioma lawsuits.
Pennsylvania Steel and Manufacturing
Asbestos has long been a material found in and around heavy industry. Whether used directly in the products being manufactured, or as insulation or fire retardants within plant buildings, countless Pennsylvania workers have been exposed to unhealthy asbestos fibers over the years.
Both Pittsburg and Philadelphia were built up around the steel and automotive industries. Similar plants can also be found throughout much of rural Pennsylvania. Additionally, Pennsylvania operated many asbestos mines throughout the past century. Miners and residents of these areas are also at a higher risk for asbestos exposure.
Pennsylvania Shipbuilding
Like many coastal states, Pennsylvania has a large shipbuilding industry. Asbestos was used heavily in the construction of ships for the majority of the 20th century. As such, shipbuilders, dockworkers and naval personnel are all at an increased risk for being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Some of the most notable shipbuilding sites in Pennsylvania include:
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia
- Bristol Yard, Bristol
- Chester Shipbuilding, Chester
- Delaware River Iron Ship Building, Chester
- Dravo Corporation, Pittsburg
- Erie Shipbuilding, Erie
- John Roach and Sons, Chester
- Merchant Shipbuilding Corp., Chester
- Neafie and Lev, Philadelphia
- Sun Shipbuilding, Chester
- William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia
Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Pennsylvania
The team of mesothelioma lawyers at Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP has extensive experience in Pennsylvania law and litigation. Our mesothelioma attorneys have filed petitions for lawsuits in such counties as Philadelphia and Allegheny.
Our mesothelioma attorneys have successfully proven liability in numerous asbestos-related lawsuits. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawsuit.
Tags: asbestos, mesothelioma
Posted in General | No Comments »
Monday, September 21st, 2009
From the “Windy City” of Chicago in the northeast down to Madison County in the southwest, Illinois is a state that owes much of its success to heavy industry. Steel mills, manufacturing plants, and automobile factories are all well represented within the state. Though these industries have brought employers and jobs to the great state of Illinois, they have also brought an increased risk for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.
Illinois Plants and Industry
Illinois is considered to be the industrial epicenter of the Midwest. Chicago is especially notable for its strong ties to the steel and automotive industries. Within these manufacturing plants, asbestos was widely used for its insulation and fire-resistant properties. At Ford and General Motors manufacturing plants, asbestos was used in vehicle products such as brake pads.
Steel mills such as Inland Steel, Republic Steel, and Interlake Steel have also been linked to a heightened risk of asbestos exposure. Illinois oil refineries have been linked to mesothelioma as well, with notable employers that include Shell Oil, Sinclair, and Mobil.
Illinois Vermiculite Processing
W.R. Grace and Company is one of the most notorious companies when it comes to asbestos exposure. The company, which operated an asbestos mine in Libby, Montana, has undergone several federal trials concerning long-term negligence and cover-ups related to unsafe exposure to asbestos.
From 1974 to the 1990s, W.R. Grace shipped asbestos-contaminated vermiculite to a plant in West Chicago for processing. Due to the high amounts of asbestos fiber that were released into the air during processing, this region of West Chicago has been deemed an EPA Superfund site by the U.S. government. Both employees of the plant and those living in the surrounding area may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos.
Mesothelioma in Illinois
Mesothelioma lawyers at Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP have significant experience when it comes to asbestos-related lawsuits in Illinois. Our mesothelioma attorneys have filed petitions in a number of high-risk Illinois regions, including Cook County, Grundy County and Madison County.
Illinois is bound by a number of unique mesothelioma state laws that require considerable knowledge and expertise. Contact us today to find out how our mesothelioma lawyers can help with your Illinois asbestos lawsuit.
Tags: asbestos, EPA, GM, Libby Montana, mesothelioma, vermiculite
Posted in legal advice | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
Georgia is a state that faces a number of unsafe sources for asbestos exposure. From industrial worksites to asbestos products historically used to insulate Georgia homes and buildings, many Georgia residents are at risk for developing mesothelioma. A mesothelioma lawyer skilled in Georgia litigation can help asbestos sufferers seek fair compensation for their illness.
Georgia Plants and Industry
A number of heavy industry employers in Georgia have been identified as known sites of elevated asbestos exposure. Industrialized cities and towns such as Macon, Rome, Cartersville and Waynesboro and others are at an especially high risk. Notable Georgia employers that have been linked to mesothelioma include, but are not limited to:
- United States Army Base, Fort Benning
- Georgia-Pacific (several locations)
- Atlanta Journal Building, Atlanta
- Bowen Power Plant, Cartersville
- Kraft Power Plant, Port Wentworth
- Scherer Power Plant, Macon
- Young Refining, Douglasville
- Valdosta Tannery, Valdosta
- Vogtle Plant, Waynesboro
Naturally Occurring Asbestos in Georgia
Georgia is home to an unusually high number of areas that contain naturally occurring asbestos. The U.S. Geological Survey has documented 52 unique areas in the state that have large deposits of the fiber. The majority of these deposits are found in the northern region of Georgia, along the state’s border with North Carolina. Citizens living around these regions, particularly those near dormant asbestos mines, may be at an increased risk for unsafe asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma in Georgia
Negligence of Georgia employers and mining companies is often the root cause of mesothelioma in the state. The team of mesothelioma lawyers at Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP has extensive experience in Georgia law and litigation.
Our mesothelioma attorneys have filed petitions on behalf of Georgia residents in areas such as Fulton County. For examples of our successful track record with mesothelioma litigation, please view our featured cases and verdicts.
Tags: asbestos, mesothelioma
Posted in legal advice | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
As mesothelioma lawyers, we subscribe to numerous asbestos and mesothelioma news feeds to stay on top of newly discovered asbestos exposure sites, mesothelioma verdicts, and other topics.
In today’s asbestos feed, the overwhelming issue of note is asbestos in schools:
- St. Peter the Apostle Elementary School, New Castle, Delaware: cited for violating seven asbestos abatement statutes when the organization decided to have volunteers, rather than a certified asbestos abatement company, remove asbestos from the premises this summer.
- Hickory High School, Hickory, North Carolina: the school is seeking $1.4 million in interest free loans for renovation, including asbestos abatement. Asbestos is present in the school and there is a concern that children could become exposed to asbestos and develop mesothelioma later in their lives.
- ABC Channel 7 in New York City is reporting that whistleblowers have made public an asbestos contamination cover up in several NYC schools.
- Santa Rita Elementary, San Angelo, Texas: the school was inspected for asbestos before renovations began, and asbestos was found in unexpected areas. The school year began on time, but some classrooms, in turn, will be closed as asbestos abatement and remodeling work is done.
What’s the common theme here? Decades after widespread use of asbestos was banned, and even longer since asbestos exposure was found to be the primary cause of mesothelioma, the deadly substance is still a risk for our children. Botched clean ups, lack of funding, and other obstacles still make this carcinogen a heavy concern.
How many of our children will pay the price for the greed of asbestos companies who have been around for generations before them?
Tags: asbestos, mesothelioma
Posted in news | No Comments »
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