John McTaggart, a well known public figure in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, recently died of mesothelioma just one day after losing a councilman election. McTaggart had previously been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incredibly aggressive and fatal cancer caused by asbestos exposure, but had miraculously recovered and went on to live a relatively healthy life. He was very actively involved in the city, having been a city founder, a councilman for two decades, and a member of the Planning Commission. This year, six years after he lost his seat with the council, he became inspired to help shape the future of Rancho Palos Verdes once again and decided to run for office. Just one week before the election, McTaggart learned that his mesothelioma had resurfaced.
He was placed into hospice care at his home within a few days, and while he was able to leave his bed to vote for the election, he passed away just a day after the results came in. McTaggart finished third in a field of seven candidates; it’s unknown whether he was aware of the results before he lost consciousness for the last time.
Mesothelioma is one of several diseases that are considered a direct result from asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that was used heavily in various industries throughout the 20th century. The dangerous substance is an excellent fire retardant and insulator, making it most useful in the manufacturing, construction and construction material prefabrication industries.
When asbestos materials are handled, tiny particles of fibrous dust are released into the surrounding air and can stay suspended there for some time before settling. Inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers causes a scarring of the mesothelium tissues, the protective tissues that surround our organs, and can ultimately result in the development of mesothelioma or other dangerous diseases. Mesothelioma can take anywhere from a few years to more than half a century to become detectable from the time of exposure to asbestos, contributing to its difficult diagnosis and its obscurity in the medical community until the past several decades.
Before his involvement in politics, John McTaggart worked as both a plumber and an engineer, both of which are occupations where he may have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
The dangers of asbestos were largely ignored throughout the 20th century due to the material’s pivotal role in industry and a concerted effort to downplay its effects accordingly. The long latency period of the disease contributes to its shockingly high diagnoses in recent years; its subsequent increased awareness has contributed to asbestos bans, remediation efforts, increased research in asbestos related diseases, and a rise in mesothelioma litigation.
