Category : Mesothelioma

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9 Questions (and answers) on Mesothelioma

Could someone in your family have Mesothelioma cancer? If you or a family member has been exposed to asbestos, then there is a chance of developing this cancer as a result. You should understand everything you can about Mesothelioma and what legal options you and your family might have.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. It is caused primarily by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma is most commonly diagnosed in older people who have worked with asbestos in an industrial environment. The prognosis for mesothelioma is poor, however early detection and advanced treatment methods have given many Mesothelioma patients new hope.

This rare cancer affects the membranes that line the organs in the chest and abdomen, resulting in symptoms that include the following:

  • Chest pain
  • Painful breathing
  • Ongoing Cough
  • Fluid build-up
  • Weight loss
  • Loss of appetite

When Was Asbestos Used?

After being increasingly utilized during World War II, asbestos was prevalent in many industries. It provided strength in building products, was used for insulation purposes and in roofing materials.

Due to the fire-retardant characteristic of asbestos, it was ideal for fireproofing buildings. It also served as a sound absorber, making asbestos a product contained in many school buildings.

It wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century when asbestos-related cancers become more recognizable, that measures were taken to reduce the exposure to asbestos. The risk of exposure to the dangerous mineral remains high during renovation projects, remodels, and demolitions of structures containing asbestos products. When the mineral becomes disturbed, it is released into the air as dust and can be inhaled, putting individuals at risk for lung cancer.

How Are You Exposed to Asbestos?

The exposure to asbestos occurs when the minerals are disturbed and released into the air. Those who work in certain industries are at an increased risk for asbestos exposure due to the duties performed at work and the processes in place. Exposure to asbestos can also occur while making products containing asbestos, when working with insulation that contains asbestos, or during construction projects that include demolition or renovation.

Individuals are exposed to asbestos in essentially two ways. The first occurs in the installation of products. This normally happened years ago. The other situation in which people are exposed to asbestos is when materials containing it are taken out or disturbed (i.e. renovation projects). People who changed brakes on their cars could be exposed both putting them on and taking them off.

How Does Asbestos Get Into Your System?

When asbestos is disturbed, it is released into the air as dust. The inhalation of these minerals puts the individual at risk, as some of the tiny particles can remain within the lungs. According to the American Cancer Society, when the asbestos particles accumulate within the lungs, they can cause scarring and inflammation. The build-up of this scarring and inflammation can then lead to a number of different diseases including the development of mesothelioma.

What are the Riskiest Occupations for Mesothelioma Exposure?

Those individuals at risk to develop mesothelioma include workers from a specified list of industries and trades that utilized asbestos for its various properties.

Workers from the following companies in the Northwest Ohio area could have been exposed to asbestos and risk the chance of developing mesothelioma:

  • Power plants – ACME, Bay Shore, Steam Plant, Davis Besse, Monroe Coal Burner, Consumer Energy, Enrico Fermi
  • Automotive Plants – General Motors Foundry, Chrysler Assembly, Chrysler Fostoria Foundry
  • Glass making factories – Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company in Rossford, Libbey Glass in Toledo & East Toledo
  • Refineries in Toledo – British Petroleum (BP), Sunoco, Gulf Oil, Pure Oil
  • Nearly all other industrial settings in Northwest Ohio

Individuals who worked in commercial buildings of any size may have been exposed to asbestos, possibly causing scarring of the lungs and mesothelioma. Other workers affected by asbestos include those employed in the following industries and professions:

  • Shipping and rail yards
  • Ship building
  • Carbon black plants
  • Fiber glass and asbestos plants
  • Food processing plants
  • Military services involving shipping
  • Air Force
  • Employees in school buildings
  • Employees in University buildings
  • All manufacturing plants that use steam or had high-temperature processes
  • Anyone in building trades

What products contain asbestos?

The following list does not include every product that might contain asbestos. It is a general guide to show which types of materials might contain asbestos.

  • Cement Pipes
  • Cement Wallboard
  • Cement Siding
  • Asphalt Floor Tile
  • Vinyl Floor Tile
  • Vinyl Sheet Flooring
  • Flooring Backing
  • Construction Mastics
  • Acoustical Plaster
  • Decorative Plaster
  • Textured Paints/Coatings
  • Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in Panels
  • Spray-Applied Insulation
  • Blown-in Insulation
  • Fireproofing Materials
  • Taping Compounds (thermal)
  • Packing Materials (for wall/floor penetrations)
  • High Temperature Gaskets
  • Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops
  • Laboratory Gloves
  • Fire Blankets and Curtains
  • Elevator Equipment Panels
  • HVAC Duct Insulation
  • Boiler Insulation
  • Breaching Insulation
  • Ductwork Flexible Fabric Connections
  • Cooling Towers
  • Pipe Insulation
  • Heating and Electrical Ducts
  • Electrical Panel Partitions
  • Electrical Cloth
  • Electric Wiring Insulation
  • Chalkboards
  • Roofing Shingles
  • Roofing Felt
  • Roll Roofing
  • Roof Patching Cement
  • Base Flashing
  • Thermal Paper Products
  • Fire Doors
  • Caulking/Putties
  • Adhesives
  • Wallboard
  • Joint Compounds
  • Vinyl Wall Coverings
  • Spackling Compounds

What is the Latency Period of Asbestos?

One of the distinguishing factors of asbestos disease is the long latency period between exposure to the dust and the appearance of symptoms, with the normal range being 25-40 years. The advice that attorney Charlie Contrada gives to individuals who believe that they have developed asbestos disease is that “you are your best witness.” Your personal memory is very important to help find the answers related to your case, including where you may have been exposed to asbestos. Specifics such as where you worked in the past or where you lived can help your case.

Once you begin to have symptoms of mesothelioma, it is critical to contact a mesothelioma lawyer immediately. Doing so will allow them to work with you on your case and increase the chances of you and your family receiving a settlement.

Can I File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?

If you were exposed to asbestos at one of the locations listed above, or within one of the industries identified as a risk for asbestos exposure, we recommend calling a mesothelioma lawyer.

At Contrada & Associates, we have a database of asbestos products that can help identify whether you may have been exposed. If there is a chance that you will develop mesothelioma, our Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan mesothelioma lawyer Charlie Contrada can help you to pursue a claim. Our office also has established relationships with national resources, as well as access to the top mesothelioma and asbestos experts in the country, allowing us to provide the evidence needed to support your claim.

What are my legal options after being exposed to asbestos?

Attorney Charlie Contrada is the only mesothelioma lawyer in Northwest Ohio who has handled cases for over 25 years for individuals who have been exposed to asbestos.

Contrada & Associates is a proven partner for anyone seeking damages due to asbestos exposure and risk of mesothelioma. To speak to attorney Charlie Contrada about your history with asbestos and the legal options that you have, call 419.841.4400. You will have direct access to the only mesothelioma lawyer in Northwest Ohio, allowing you the personal attention and answers you need.

 

 

 

 

20 Nov 2017 Continue Reading

Exposed to Asbestos at Work

Asbestos is a dangerous group of minerals that, when airborne can cause great risks to individuals exposed to asbestos dust.

Attorney Charlie Contrada is the only mesothelioma lawyer in Northwest Ohio who has handled cases for over 25 years for individuals who have been exposed to asbestos. When someone is exposed to this dangerous group of minerals, there is a chance that they may develop cancer as a result.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is only caused by asbestos exposure. This rare cancer affects the membranes that line the organs in the chest and abdomen, resulting in symptoms that include the following:

  • Chest pain
  • Painful breathing
  • Ongoing Cough
  • Fluid build-up
  • Weight loss
  • Loss of appetite

 How are you exposed to asbestos?

The exposure to asbestos occurs when the minerals are disturbed and released into the air. Those who work in certain industries are at an increased risk for asbestos exposure due to the duties performed at work and the processes in place. Exposure to asbestos can also occur while making products containing asbestos, when working with insulation that contains asbestos, or during construction projects that include demolition or renovation.

Individuals are exposed to asbestos in essentially two ways. The first occurs in the installation of products. This normally happened years ago. The other situation in which people are exposed to asbestos is when materials containing it are taken out or disturbed (i.e. renovation projects). People who changed brakes on their cars could be exposed both putting them on and taking them off.

How does asbestos get into your system?

When asbestos is disturbed, it is released into the air as dust. The inhalation of these minerals puts the individual at risk, as some of the tiny particles can remain within the lungs. According to the American Cancer Society, when the asbestos particles accumulate within the lungs, they can cause scarring and inflammation. The build-up of this scarring and inflammation can then lead to a number of different diseases including the development of mesothelioma.

Latency Period

One of the distinguishing factors of asbestos disease is the long latency period between exposure to the dust and the appearance of symptoms, with the normal range being 25-40 years. The advice that attorney Charlie Contrada gives to individuals who believe that they have developed asbestos disease is that “you are your best witness.” Your personal memory is very important to help find the answers related to your case, including where you may have been exposed to asbestos. Specifics such as where you worked in the past or where you lived can help your case.

Once you begin to have symptoms of asbestos disease, it is critical to contact a mesothelioma lawyer immediately. Doing so will allow them to work with you on your case and increase the chances of you and your family receiving a settlement.

Can I file a mesothelioma claim?

There are two components to a mesothelioma case:

  1. You have been diagnosed with mesothelioma by a pulmonologist, pathologist, or other specialist.
  2. You can prove the particular manufacturer of asbestos to which you were exposed. 

Attorney Charlie Contrada is the only local mesothelioma lawyer in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan who has handled hundreds of cases the past 25 years. Our law firm has access to a database involving Ohio and Michigan job sites, allowing us to identify whether or not you have been exposed to this dangerous group of minerals. The experience within this area of law has also allowed attorney Contrada and counsel to form relationships with national resources and experts that can provide the necessary evidence to support your mesothelioma claim.

To speak with attorney Charlie Contrada about the asbestos exposure that you experienced at work, call 419.841.4400. You will have the opportunity to have a conversation with attorney Contrada, explain your personal experience, and learn the legal options that you have. 

2 May 2014 Continue Reading

Asbestos Awareness Week 2014

April 1-7 is Asbestos Awareness Week, an opportunity to join together and spread the word about asbestos, a deadly group of minerals. As a Northwest Ohio mesothelioma lawyer, Charlie Contrada believes that it is important to raise awareness of this fatal cancer and the pain and suffering that it brings to tens of thousands of individuals every year.

Diagnosed with Mesothelioma

Attorney Charlie Contrada has handled countless mesothelioma cases and deals with both the individuals who have been diagnosed with the disease, as well as their family members. Unfortunately, this form of cancer is generally so advanced at the time of diagnosis that the individual themselves may have lost their battle with mesothelioma during the course of the legal process, resulting in their family members carrying out the lawsuit on their behalf. There are, however, some very recent treatments that have proven to be helpful if the mesothelioma is diagnosed early enough. 

Asbestos Exposure: Facts & Statistics

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization outlined the top five facts about asbestos in the U.S. in an August 2012 presentation.

  1. Asbestos is a human carcinogen and there is no safe level of asbestos exposure – a statement that is agreed upon by The World Health Organization, International Labor Organization, Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Surgeon General.
  2. Asbestos has not been banned in the United Sates – although more than 10,000 Americans die every year from asbestos-caused diseases, this carcinogen has yet to be banned in the United States.
  3. Asbestos increased from 2010 to 2011 – there is a difference of 140 metric tons of asbestos used between 2010 and 2011.
  4. Roofing products accounted for 41% of U.S. asbestos consumption– chloralkali industry diaphragms, 28%; coating and compounds, 2%; plastics, less than 1%; and other uses, 29%. 
  5. Construction workers are 11 times more likely to develop mesothelioma – this increased risk of mesothelioma is due to the asbestos exposure that exists at construction sites.

There is no “safe” level of exposure to asbestos and according to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, there are up to 30 million homes and business that are insulated with vermiculite that contains asbestos.

The issue of asbestos exposure is far from being resolved due to the dependency of imports to meet manufacturing needs. However, there is progress being made in awareness regarding the dangers that are related to asbestos and the fatal cancer that it causes.

In 2012, the U.S. Senate Resolution S.389 designated the first week of April as “National Asbestos Awareness Week.” The Senate urges the Surgeon General to educate people of the hazards of asbestos exposure as a public health issue.

The law firm of Contrada & Associates believes that by continually spreading awareness and supporting the victims of asbestos-related diseases, progress will be made. There are substitutes to asbestos that are safer than this hazardous group of minerals that offer the same functionality. It is imperative that the U.S. moves toward banning the use of asbestos, as over 50 countries have done so already.

If you would like to find more information regarding Asbestos Awareness Week, visit the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s website. You can also read the Surgeon General’s 2013 statement regarding Asbestos Awareness Week on SurgeonGeneral.gov.

To speak to a mesothelioma lawyer regarding exposure to asbestos and the diagnosis of mesothelioma to yourself or a loved one, call 419.841.4400. Attorney Charlie Contrada will speak with you directly, discuss your personal situation, and outline the options that you have regarding a mesothelioma lawsuit. 

31 Mar 2014 Continue Reading

Industries Affected by Mesothelioma

Who is at Risk for Mesothelioma?

Attorney Charlie Contrada has been handling mesothelioma cases for over 25 years. He has helped numerous individuals and families who were exposed to asbestos to receive a settlement after contracting cancer. As the only local lawyer in Northwest Ohio that has handled mesothelioma cases, attorney Contrada is available to sit down with you personally to explain your options as a victim of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a group of minerals that was widely used in the past for its unique properties, including the fact that it is resistant to heat and corrosion. Heavily used in building materials and insulation, as well as automotive products, the dangerous group of minerals was exposed to workers in a variety of industries and trades.

Which Industries Were Exposed to Asbestos?

Those individuals at risk to develop mesothelioma include workers from a specified list of industries and trades that utilized asbestos for its various properties.

Workers from the following companies in the Northwest Ohio area could have been exposed to asbestos and risk the chance of developing mesothelioma:

  • Power plants – ACME, Bay Shore, Steam Plant, Davis Besse, Monroe Coal Burner, Consumer Energy, Rico Fermi
  • Automotive Plants – General Motors Foundry, Chrysler Assembly, Chrysler Fostoria Foundry
  • Glass making factories – Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Libbey Glass in Toledo & East Toledo
  • Refineries in Toledo – British Petroleum (BP), Sunoco, Gulf Oil, Pure Oil
  • Nearly all other industrial settings in Northwest Ohio

Individuals who worked in commercial buildings of any size may have been exposed to asbestos, possibly causing scarring of the lungs and mesothelioma. Other workers affected by asbestos include those employed in the following industries and professions:

  • Shipping and rail yards
  • Ship building
  • Carbon black plants
  • Fiber glass and asbestos plants
  • Food processing plants
  • Military services involving shipping
  • Air Force
  • Employees in school buildings
  • Employees in University buildings
  • All manufacturing plants that use steam or had high-temperature processes
  • Anyone in building trades

When Was Asbestos Used?

After being increasingly utilized during World War II, asbestos was prevalent in many industries. It provided strength in building products, was used for insulation purposes and in roofing materials.

Due to the fire-retardant characteristic of asbestos, it was ideal for use in the fireproofing of buildings. It also served as a sound absorber, making asbestos a product contained in a majority of school buildings.

It wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century when asbestos-related cancers become more recognizable, that measures were taken to reduce the exposure to asbestos. The risk of exposure to the dangerous mineral remains high during renovation projects, remodels, and demolitions of structures containing asbestos products. When the mineral becomes disturbed, it is released into the air as dust and can be inhaled, putting individuals at risk for lung cancer.

Can I File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?

If you were exposed to asbestos at one of the locations listed above, or within one of the industries identified as a risk for asbestos exposure, we recommend calling a mesothelioma lawyer.

At Contrada & Associates, we have a database of asbestos products that can help identify whether you may have been exposed. If there is a chance that you will develop mesothelioma, our Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan mesothelioma lawyer Charlie Contrada can help you to pursue a claim. Our office also has established relationships with national resources, as well as access to the top mesothelioma and asbestos experts in the country, allowing us to provide the evidence needed to support your claim.

Contrada & Associates is a proven partner for anyone seeking damages due to asbestos exposure and risk of mesothelioma. To speak to attorney Charlie Contrada about your history with asbestos and the legal options that you have, call 419.841.4400. You will have direct access to the only mesothelioma lawyer in Northwest Ohio, allowing you the personal attention and answers you need.

21 Mar 2014 Continue Reading