Edward and Barbara Comer of Highland Springs, Virginia, are suing 143 companies for alleged negligence, conspiracy, misrepresentation and a host of other employment based wrongdoings. Filed in April, these actions followed one month after Edward Comer’s mesothelioma diagnosis. The Comers believe these 143 companies are responsible for exposing Edward to asbestos, the toxic carcinogen that causes mesothelioma development.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer—about three thousand Americans are affected by it each year, and close to twenty thousand people worldwide. There are two types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma makes us about 80% of total cases, and affects lung-lining tissue. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common and affects lining of other abdominal organs. Both types of mesothelioma are considered fatal.

Mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period, similar to what Edward Comer experienced. Malignant mesothelioma often takes twenty to fifty years to develop to its final stage and demonstrate symptoms. Patients often have no idea they have mesothelioma until decades after asbestos exposure; and many have no idea they ere ever exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma symptoms demonstrate as those of pneumonia and bronchitis, postponing diagnosis even longer.

The illusive characteristics of asbestos fibers and a general “don’t-ask-don’t-tell” attitude towards asbestos in the workplace of the past, has only added questions to studies of mesothelioma development. Mesothelioma’s long latency period complicated matters even more, making its cause, and any treatments options, something of a mystery.  The last several decades, however, have witnessed a change in regulations and medical research associated with asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. The Environmental Protection agency works to protect the American public from toxic exposure, while scientists and medical experts endeavor for a cure.

Edward Comer believes he was exposed to asbestos during his twenty-four years as an insulator, form 1960 to 1984. Asbestos was used in the last century, not only as an insulation material, but also as an additive and stabilizer for countless other products present in homes, commercial buildings and equipment around the globe. Edward and Barbara are suing companies they believe to have been directly involved in Edward’s asbestos exposure—companies they suggest have knowingly or negligently withheld vital information or protection from Edward during his employment as an insulator.

To date, over 600,000 asbestos related cases have been filed—the first dating back to the 1920s. An estimated 200 to 250 million dollars have been spent on asbestos liabilities, with 1 to 3 million claimants involved.

Sadly, it will not end here. The Comers are joining an ongoing list of those affected by toxic asbestos. Until asbestos is completely banned worldwide, mesothelioma cases, and other asbestos-caused diseases, will be on the rise.

A Cicero, Illinois company has received some negative attention from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); specifically, $1.2 million in asbestos related fines. Total fines include payment for 4 willful violations and 15 willful citations.

OSHA takes asbestos misuse and neglect seriously, as does Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), listing asbestos as a type 1 carcinogen. Asbestos is a toxic chemical found in many rock deposits thought the world. Mined and used heavily through the past century, asbestos is known for its fire resistance and durability. However, in the past few decades asbestos has also become known as the cause of mesothelioma, a rare cancer affecting respiratory system functions.

If asbestos fibers are inhaled they can become lodged in lung tissue, initiating mesothelioma development, a cancerous growth of malignant tumors. These tumors spread irregularly through lung lining or lining of other abdominal cavities, causing no visible signs for decades. Mesothelioma is characterized by this long latency period, lasting for twenty to fifty years. Once symptoms demonstrate, mimicking those of pneumonia or bronchitis, mesothelioma has become so aggressive that patient life expectancy averages only eighteen months.

Mesothelioma treatments are available and include surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Often administered in combination, mesothelioma treatments tend to be palliative in nature, attempting to manage pain and extend patient life expectancy.

In response to the Illinois company’s misconduct, an OSHA news statement claimed, “…five unprotected and untrained workers allegedly were required to conduct asbestos removal exposing them to this cancer-causing material.” Asbestos abatement requires specific training and certification. While regulations and licensure may vary from state to state, OSHA and EPA objectives to protect public health and enhance American air quality are always in focus.

The OSHA statement additionally accuses the Illinois company of, “…failing to implement a respirator protection program; failing to use engineering controls and work practices for Class I asbestos work; not conducting asbestos work in regulated areas; and failing to provide hygiene facilities for workers removing the dangerous material.” The statement continued, “A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.”

According to tests done at the site in question, materials being used contained 20 – 50% asbestos, a high toxicity level. Until asbestos exposure, both intentional and accidental, is completely stopped, mesothelioma cases are expected to rise worldwide. With a latency period of several decades, mesothelioma cases and other asbestos related diseases might continue to multiply before peaking.

John Casey has won an asbestos lawsuit against Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc and FDCC California, Inc, in San Francisco. Following his mesothelioma diagnosis, Casey accused these two corporations of neither warning him, nor protecting him, from mesothelioma’s cause, toxic chemical asbestos.

Casey was employed as a plumber for forty years, during which he worked with and around asbestos containing components. Asbestos fibers, if inhaled, can begin a cancerous growth process of malignant tumors, spreading though lining of lungs and other abdominal cavities, this is called mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period—typically between twenty and fifty years. During this time patients usually have no idea they have the disease.  Symptoms demonstrate during the last and most aggressive stage of mesothelioma. Symptoms mimic those of bronchitis or pneumonia, making mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. About three thousand Americans suffer with mesothelioma each year, making it a rare cancer and adding to the chance of it being missed by medical professionals. Once a proper diagnosis is made, patients average a life expectancy of just eighteen months.

Although asbestos is considered a type 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization, it is still used around the world for building and production purposes. While countries such as the US, UK and Australia have regulated asbestos use, many developing countries are using the toxic material with little or no safety precautions. It is these countries that are also less likely to have medical facilities able to diagnose or treat mesothelioma and other asbestos related illnesses.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgeries are often performed in an effort to remove affected tissue, alleviate pain and aid patient breathing. There is no cure for mesothelioma.

In March, a jury awarded Casey $5 million in loss of consortium, $15 million in non-economic damages, and $1,273,421 for economic damages after finding Kaiser guilty of negligence. Certain building materials Casey used during his employment, provided by Kaiser, contained asbestos and considered defective.

Earlier this month, Kaiser was additionally found guilty of oppression or malice in their treatment and negligence of Casey during his employment. Kaiser was fined $20 million for punitive damages.

Dominion Virginia Power (DOM) company’s power plant in Surry, Virginia, suffered a power outage during a recent tornado on April 16. Although the power was switched immediately over to a generator, details of the power plant unfolded as outage consequences were addressed.

Due to the outage, one of the reactors required refueling. According to DOM’s spokesman, Rick Zuercher, the refueling process can take up to a month in time and necessitate nearly one hundred different contractors working on multiple aspects of the project. It was one of these many contractors that reported an asbestos threat at the power plant.

State Department of Labor and Industry responded to the report and began an investigation. Not much is being shared publicly, however. Department spokeswoman Jennifer Wester said, “We’re looking into it, yes,” but declined to make any further comments on the matter.

Asbestos would be expected in a power plant—one of the structures known to use the material for its fire resistant and insulating qualities. Relatively safe when contained in an intact component, asbestos poses a threat when its fibers or dust particles become airborne. Asbestos exposure can occur after wear and tear breaks down the containing materials or some disaster or demolition suddenly tears open the containing material.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines regulations for use and removal of asbestos in its Clean Air Act. These regulations did not come into play, however, until the nineteen-eighties. Asbestos was used heavily in the US before its health threats were discovered. Close to a century of asbestos use in the US has now brought countless cases of exposure, which can easily go unchecked and unnoticed for years. .

Asbestos is known to cause severe respiratory illnesses. Among these is rare cancer mesothelioma—a system of irregularly patterned malignant tumors which grow through lung lining and lining of other abdominal cavities. Mesothelioma development begins after asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs. Characterized by a long latency period typically between twenty and fifty years, mesothelioma goes undetected for decades. Diagnosis is difficult as symptoms do not demonstrate until the disease has reached its final and most aggressive stage. Life expectancy following diagnosis averages eighteen months. There are mesothelioma treatments available, but no known cure.

DOM’s Surry power plant has a potential health and safety threat on their hands. Depending on the level of exposure, employees, contractors and area locals could be put at risk for mesothelioma or other respiratory diseases.  Zuercher said a “team of experts” has tested the facility and consider asbestos levels to be well within safe brackets outlined by Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.