New York Asbestos Lawyers

Asbestos is a mineral form of impure magnesium silicate. It is mostly used in large industries as fireproofing material, electrical insulation, building material, brake linings and chemical filters. Asbestos has been established as the sole cause of mesothelioma, a type of cancer found rarely in the general population. It is observed that exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. The state of New York is one of the leading commercial cities of the world and there are a lot of manufacturing, printing and shipping companies in this city. In earlier times, many industries in New York used asbestos- containing materials, and due to the exposure to it, a number of workers were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. New York asbestos lawyers represent people working at the city?s shipyards, powerhouses, plants and construction sites and suffering from diseases caused due to breathing asbestos dust on the job site.

The first claims of damage caused by asbestos exposure, in New York were filed in 1929. That was the time when the dangers of such exposure were first observed. Since then, there have been many asbestos lawyers filing lawsuits on behalf of various workers such as plumbers, electricians, insulation installers and pipe fitters against the manufacturers of asbestos products. Asbestos lawyers charge claims of negligence, design defect and failure to warn against the manufacturers. They have to be necessarily very well experienced in such cases and also be familiar with the manufacturing sites in the area and the materials used at these sites.

Some asbestos lawyers also represent people who are diagnosed with these diseases though they are not exposed to asbestos at their workplace. They help such clients by investigating their case in detail and determining the possible sources of their asbestos exposure.

New York asbestos lawyers endeavor to provide prudent legal advice to their clients and help them earn compensations worth millions of dollars towards the damages suffered by them. These damages include the medical expenses undergone by the workers for the treatment of their illness. There have asbestos lawyers in New York who have managed to get in excess of 250 million dollars in compensation for their clients.

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How To Choose A Mesothelioma Law Firm When Seeking Compensation For Asbestos Exposure

The person who represents your interest in a mesothelioma case has to be chosen very carefully. The success of your case depends as much on your attorney as it does on the facts presented in the case. Your mesothelioma lawyer should have a good amount of knowledge of laws regarding mesothelioma and at least a working understanding of the disease itself.

A lot of paperwork is required to prove a case of negligence by the company that processed the asbestos which causes mesothelioma so your lawyer has to be able to gather, organize and present all the necessary information well. You also want someone who understands what you are dealing with emotionally, psychologically and physically so that your case is as important to them as it is to you.

Choosing Your Representation
When you choose a lawyer or law firm to represent your case you should be comfortable with all members of the staff who are involved with the case. You should view them as being competent and experienced enough to handle your case. If that is not true, you should rethink your decision to file your case with the firm and contact other law firms to find one you are happy with.

Questions for the Firm
You should ask questions of the lawyers until you are completely satisfied that they are the best team to handle your case.

Here is a list of questions you should ask the attorney(s) interested in handling your mesothelioma lawsuit:
? Does your law firm handle mesothelioma cases or will I be referred to another law firm? If so, what is the name of the law firm that handles my type of case?
? How long have you been involved in handling mesothelioma lawsuits and do you handle other types of medical law? What about toxic substance cases?
? How man mesothelioma cases are currently being handled by the law firm?
? (In the case of an individual attorney) How many mesothelioma lawsuits have you personally handled and what is your success rate in and out of court?
? How many mesothelioma cases has your firm taken to trial and what is the success rate of your trial cases? Are there lawyers on staff who handle the trial cases?
? In settlement cases, who handles the legal proceedings and what is the firm?s success rate with settlements? What is the range of settlement amount and is medical care typically included?

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a term for several commonly found fibrous magnesium-silicate minerals. Due to their durable and versatile nature, asbestos materials were used widely in construction and manufacturing for most of the 20th century. Today, it is widely understood that asbestos is an extremely harmful substance. However, this was not always known. Even minimal inhalation of these asbestos fibers can develop into serious, and even fatal, conditions. In 1918, The United States Department of Labor issued a bulletin stating that there was an "urgent need for more qualified extensive investigation" into the severe harm caused by asbestos. Nevertheless, many industries kept using asbestos.

For decades, construction workers, vehicle mechanics, shipyard workers, electricians, and others employed in the building trades did not realize the danger, as they were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. Even now, workers renovating or demolishing old buildings may encounter asbestos. The danger was not limited those who directly handled the asbestos. If a worker had substantial exposure to asbestos, his or her co-worker or spouse also was vulnerable to asbestos-related illness.

Eventually scientific research confirmed the life-threatening risks caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. However, companies still ignored the danger, and continued to make and use products containing asbestos, until it was banned during the latter part of the 20th century. Asbestos was used widely in heavy industry, as well as insulation in hair dryers, electrical wiring, cement, paper, roofing materials, floorboards, and hundreds of other common items. Despite the legal ban on new uses, over one million Americans are endangered by exposure to existing asbestos sources every year.

Asbestos Removal

Asbestos still exists in many older buildings, including schools, hospitals, airports, and factories across Michigan. From skyscrapers to residential buildings, asbestos continues to threaten the health of unsuspecting citizens.

Removal of asbestos is a complex process. Special precautions are necessary, to avoid release of asbestos fibers into the surrounding environment. Otherwise, the asbestos will endanger anyone in the area, who inhales or ingests its odorless and tasteless microscopic fibers. The danger is great, because any amount of asbestos can be harmful. For these reasons, there is a conflict between those who push for removal of asbestos from existing structures, and those who oppose it, if it is unlikely to enter building ventilation systems.

Some companies and government agencies arrange for asbestos removal to prevent public exposure, while others do so to avoid potential litigation. Still other projects are driven by legislation or public outcry for asbestos removal from public buildings, including many older schools across the country.

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases

Three serious health conditions may result from exposure to even a small amount of airborne asbestos fibers. All three conditions result from inhaling the fibers, which become embedded in the lungs or other parts of the body. It can take years for symptoms of any of these asbestos illness to appear. Some experts believe that no symptoms appear for more than a decade after exposure. In some cases, it takes even longer for the illness to become evident. The following is information about the three major conditions resulting from asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma
The medical profession used to consider this type of cancer as quite rare. While still uncommon, the number of workers diagnosed with mesothelioma has risen. Now, about 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported in the United States every year. The incidence of this disease is increasing at an even higher rate in Europe. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer, usually caused by asbestos fibers that actually penetrate lung tissue. It is also possible for mesothelioma to develop after these fibers penetrate the heart or the abdomen. While doctors have found many different causes for other forms of cancer, the only definitely identified cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Asbestosis
Sometimes, this term is used incorrectly to refer to all ailments resulting from asbestos exposure. However, it is actually a very specific condition. Asbestosis (also known as interstitial fibrosis) develops when inhaled asbestos fibers cause scarring of the lung tissue. Over time, this scarring reduces the capacity of the lung. Individuals with asbestosis may suffer disabling lung impairments, and must be monitored closely because they are at increased risk of even more serious asbestos-related conditions.

Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is all too common in our society and has many possible causes. However, there is evidence of a link between asbestos exposure and lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is even higher for an individual who has been exposed to asbestos, and also smokes cigarettes. Mesothelioma Treatment Options "Staging" is a term that medical professionals use to define the spread and extent of cancers like mesothelioma. In general, the least serious "first stage" only involves the lining of the lung. By the most serious "stage four," cancer has spread to other organs of the body.

Medical researchers continue to improve treatment for mesothelioma. The most common form of treatment is still chemotherapy. With new combinations of drugs, such as pemetrexed and carboplatin, chemotherapy may slow the progression of cancer in some victims. Radiation or surgery is the an appropriate treatment for other mesothelioma patients. In addition, some experimental treatments are yielding promising test results and offer hope for future victims.

Mesothelioma is still regarded as a deadly form of cancer. The average life span after diagnosis is only one to two years. However, the stage of the disease when it is discovered, and an individual's response to treatment are significant factors in determining life expectancy. Due to medical progress, 20% of those diagnosed at an early stage of mesothelioma have at least 5 more years to live.

Mesothelioma Symptoms and Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Men are many times more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. This may be due to the higher percentage of men who work in factories and construction, where there is an increased risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Older men are more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma. This is not surprising, because of the relatively long period of time between asbestos exposure and the onset of this cancer.

Physicians may have difficulty diagnosing mesothelioma, because initial symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest or abdominal pain, can be confused with other conditions. There are tests to rule out mesothelioma, including a thoracoscopy or a peritoneoscopy. If you have symptoms and believe that you may have past asbestos exposure, see your doctor immediately. If you or a loved one suffer from asbestos related cancer or mesothelioma cancer, talk with an experienced asbestos lawyer today.

Attorney Marya Sieminski joined the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein in 2003. She is admitted to practice law in Michigan state courts and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated magna cum laude from Wayne State University Law School. Marya has worked as a trial lawyer for 10 years and exclusively represented victims in personal injury litigation and in workers compensation claims. She also was appointed by the Governor to serve on the State of Michigan Workers Compensation Qualifications Advisory Committee. The Law Offices of Samuel I. Bernstein, our Michigan mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, and personal injury law firm, has championed the cause of seriously injured Michigan victims for three generations.

Claiming Compensation For Asbestos Related Diseases

Many people are affected by Asbestos related diseases throughout the UK. It is estimated that Asbestos affects as many as 1 in 100 men over the age of 40 in this Country as well as an increasing number of women. Exposure to Asbestos dust can damage the fibrous tissue in the lungs.

Claims can be made by Claimants, even though the exposure was 30 or more years ago, and the past employer(s) has gone out of business.

Claims can also be made for deceased Claimants on behalf of their loved ones/estate.

Successful ?secondary? claims for Asbestos have been won by Widows of those exposed, after suffering lung damage merely from handling/washing clothes and overalls containing harmful asbestos fibres, and even Grandchildren have received compensation, after contracting lung conditions merely from sitting on Granddad?s knee when he was still wearing his work clothes.

The compensation obtained can, in many cases, amount to well in excess of ?100,000 pounds, depending upon the severity of the particular disease.

Asbestos has no respect for socio-economic group or occupation. There are over 1,000 new cases of Mesothelioma reported every year in the UK. It is generally accepted asbestos is the cause.

The types of occupation where exposure can be found/occur include the following:-

• Asbestos Cement Products Industry (used for strong, inexpensive building materials, eg tiles, corrugated roofing, gutters, water and drain pipes, chimneys etc.
• Floor tiling industry
• Insulation and Fire Proofing
• Carpenters
• Electricians
• Power Plant Works
• Plumbers
• Roofers
• Central Heating and/or air conditioning contractors
• School and Hospital workers
• Ship workers

Symptoms can include breathlessness and persistent coughing which may cause sleepless nights leading to fatigue. Some sufferers report chest pain and feeling as though a heavy weight is pressing down on their chest, depending upon the particular condition.

There are a number of state benefits available to victims and their carers. A specialist Solicitor can not only pursue asbestos compensation claims for sufferers on a true No Win No Fee* basis, but also provide advice and assistance with applications in order to maximise benefit entitlement.

Andrew Bowen is the Managing Director of CityView Media which operate a number of online businesses including National Injury Claims and Claim King Accident Compensation.

Asbestosis, Asbestos and Types of Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

The three main types of malignant mesotheliomas are epithelioid, sarcomatoid and mixed/biphasic. Epithelioid is the most common kind as around 50-70% of all mesothelioma cases reported are this type. Epithelioid also has the best chances of survival. It affects the internal organs and internal surfaces coverings. Sarcomatoid is a much more serious condition as it affects the secondary tissues in the body such as cartilage, muscles, bone and fat. However, this cancer is much rarer, as it only occurs 7-20% of the time. Mixed/biphasic is having both types of the cancer at once, and this makes up 20-35% of the occurrences.

Like all other types of cancer, mesothelioma is incurable. Although doctors and scientists have made a great deal of progress for diagnosing and treating these malignancies, there is still no current way to completely get rid of it.

The affected areas from mesothelioma cancer are the lining of the internal organs in the body. Because of the location of the infected cells, mesothelioma does not respond well to conventional treatments unlike most other forms of cancer. In addition, there are no blatant symptoms of the disease, so doctors cannot properly diagnose the illness until it?s significantly advanced. Because of these factors, the effectiveness of many conventional treatments are limited.

Even the best doctors in the world mistake early symptoms of asbestos related diseases with lesser conditions. Detection of mesothelioma relies mostly on associating proper symptoms with proper diagnosis because it is so subtle. If you have had exposure to asbestos, then you should alert your doctor of your medical history so they know what tests to look for and what tests to use.

High risk groups such as asbestos and construction workers must undergo frequent check-ups to monitor any conditions leading to mesothelioma. Because this cancer is so deadly, early diagnosis and treatment can help prolong life, but the mortality rate is usually 100% within five years.

Regardless of the type, mesothelioma is fatal. Survival rates are usually only 1-5 years after diagnosis. If you or a loved one has been affected by mesothelioma, you may have the legal right to seek compensation for your suffering.

To learn more about mesothelioma cancer centers, cancer cell types and pericardinal mesothelioma, please visit our website. This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Resource: Get to Know It

For those of you that have no idea what mesothelioma is; or at least knows that it's a type of cancer but would like to know more about it, this article on asbestos mesothelioma resource will attempt to inform you as much as possible. This disease may not be popular but it certainly destroys the lives of people who have mesothelioma and his or her close friends and relatives.

Causes

To start, mesothelioma is caused by exposure to a mineral called asbestos. Fortunately, not many people are at risk of the hazardous asbestos compared to other toxic material. Even so, according to the AJRCCM 1.3 million people are still vulnerable to poisonous asbestos.

These are the people who are most susceptible to be exposed to asbestos and obtain either pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma:

• Workers in mines of asbestos extraction
• People who work in the trade industry
• Workers at shipyards
• Manufacturers of Asbestos products
• Workers in the construction industry
• Workers in heating industry
• Family and friends of all of the above

The depressing part of it all is that getting mesothelioma isn't your fault, but because of negligence from the owners of these mines, shipyards, construction sites, etc. In the past these people have failed to implement safety measures and the consequences are being paid by everyone involved. The workers because of the illness and the owners because of all the compensation money they have to pay for every mesothelioma lawsuit they have had in the years.

Asbestos and the Law

Asbestos mesothelioma legal claims cost around $200 billion in the US. It is relatively easy to win a mesothelioma case because of the implications on how you obtained the disease. However, you must take into account that these people have had thousands of lawsuits throughout the years and they hire the best legal sharks out there. So it must be noted that they have techniques to drag and setback as much as possible the lawsuits.

After certain events in his life, Ermenegildo Billar has dedicated years of his life to understanding and helping people with the malignant mesothelioma. For your comfort he decided to create www.infothelioma.com so you can have easy access to his research.

Asbestos Attorneys

Several ailments are caused when a person inhales asbestos or comes in contact with it. Asbestos lawyers are attorneys who help individuals get compensation for damages suffered because of asbestos exposure.

In the US, asbestos attorneys have represented hundreds of people incapacitated by asbestos. These asbestos attorneys have been active in attaining extraordinary verdicts and payments on behalf of asbestos sufferers in many regions of the US.

The chief hazard from asbestos is from breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs. Asbestos dust is easily breathed into the lungs, since asbestos fibers are minute and smooth. Once inhaled, some asbestos fibers will stay in the body perpetually. Over extended periods of time, these fibers can give rise to lethal ailments like mesothelioma, other asbestos cancers and asbestosis.

Researchers have not settled on a safe level of contact with asbestos. Nevertheless, scientists and doctors have concluded that the larger and longer the contact with asbestos, the greater the chance of experiencing asbestos-connected ailments.

Asbestos attorneys understand that every case of asbestos exposure is different, and warrants personal notice. They follow every case with their enormous familiarity and experience of the asbestos industry. The attorneys also recognize that money will by no means sufficiently compensate a victim of asbestos exposure, but consider it important to bring these cases to court in order to have judgments passed against the companies which brought about damage to thousands of American workers and their families.

When choosing an asbestos lawyer, one should seek a law firm that specializes in asbestos cases and is dedicated to serving its clients. The attorney should perform as the advocate, taking charge of the case in an understanding, caring, specialized manner.

Asbestos Attorneys provides detailed information on Asbestos Attorneys, Asbestos Cancer Attorneys, Asbestos Litigation Attourneys, Asbestos Mesothelioma Attorneys and more. Asbestos Attorneys is affiliated with Asbestos Trial Lawyers

Mesothelioma. How do doctors diagnose Asbestos Cancer? Part 2

Continued from part 1.

If the effusion is suspicious for some infection or cancer, sample of the fluid may give the clue whether the cause is benign or malignant. However, four out of five tests may miss the cancer. Eventually, the biopsy of the pleura by a needle or by a surgical procedure confirms the diagnosis of the mesothelioma.

For abdominal mesothelioma, an abdominal x-ray checks the fluid in your belly.

Sometime an x-ray may show not only effusions, but also mass, or signs of asbestos accumulation, pleural plaques and calcifications or scarring due to asbestosis and chronic inflammation.

Drain of the fluid is done by needle in the chest or abdominal cavity. The name is thoracocentesis or pleural aspiration from chest, and abdoparacentesis or peritoneal aspiration in tummy.

At modern days the CT (computerized tomography) scan is used more often. CT is a special x-ray machine that shows sliced images of your body. CT scan of chest or abdomen shows the swellings in organs, cavities, and lymph nodes. A contrast dye may help to the scan. CT scans show pleural effusion, pleural thickening, pleural calcification, spreading of tumor into chest wall. However, CT do not really distinguish benign asbestos disease, lung cancer or mesothelioma. Doctors also use CT scans for guiding needle aspiration of suspicious pleural masses.

Thoracoscopy is the procedure when a surgeon makes small cut in your chest wall between two ribs and looks through a thoracoscope (a tool with a video camera). The biopsy (tissue sample) goes to a lab to check for cancer cells.

Bronchoscopy allows doctors to look inside the airways. A thin flexible tube (bronchoscope) helps to get samples of tissue and send them sent to a lab for testing for cancer cells.

Mediastinoscopy checks mediastinum (the area in chest containing heart, great blood vessels, lymph nodes, esophagus, nerves and so on). Mediastinoscopy allows sampling lymph nodes in your body to look for metastases.

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure when doctors look inside of your belly with a small camera-fitted tube. The surgeons will biopsy suspicious areas. The bioptate (the tissue sample) goes to the laboratory. A pathologist checks it under a microscope. Laparoscopy leaves a small cut on the skin of your belly. Another name of the same procedure is peritoneoscopy. The tool is named peritoneoscope.

Putting a needle into your abdomen and removing the fluid inside is named paracentesis Putting a needle into your chest and draining the fluid is named thoracentesis.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan gives a sliced picture of the inside of your body. It is better than X-ray or CT scan because there is no radiation of your body. However it requires significant time. Sometimes it takes up to 20 minutes. And some people afraid to stay in the machine for half an hour required for the test. Besides MRI has a limitation. The test requires avoiding metals in your bodies (like metal joints and other metal implants). MRI is not a routine test, so sometime it is not ordered. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is most commonly ordered to determine the extent of tumor to plan the surgery. MRI also easier than CT scans shows enlarged lymph nodes and surface of diaphragm and this is important for surgical planning.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) came recently for diagnosing different type of cancers and mesothelioma as well. PET uses special radioactive substances that emit positrons. Localized mesothelioma is confined to the pleura. Advanced mesothelioma spreads to the lungs, chest wall, abdomen and lymph nodes.

Pathological examination checks biopsy samples under the microscope It is difficulty to diagnose mesothelioma sometime. The cells of the tumor may be of many different types. These cells may look similar to other cancers. Peritoneal cells may look similar to pleural mesothelioma or other types of lung cancer and even ovarian cancer. Epithelioid type of mesothelioma is more common and considered better for treatment more than aggressive sarcomatous type. Biphasic mesothelioma is the mixture of both.

Doctors and scientists also proposed some immunological makers to find mesothelioma, however majority of the markers are not very specific. Just to mention: Epithelial membrane antigen, CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen √ very unspecific, may happen in many different cancers), Calretinin, Mesothelin, Cytokeratin, osteopontin and some others.

Look also: http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact, http://www.nlm.nih.gov, http://www.rdoctor.com

So, to recap, the tests used by doctors:

*X-rays

*CT scan

*Thoracocentesis

*Paracentesis

*Thoracoscopy

*Bronchoscopy

*MRI scan

*Mediastinoscopy

*Laparoscopy

*All kinds of biopsy

The diagnosis is done after careful evaluation of complaints, physical exam and imaging in addition to the biopsy.

Keywords: Diagnosis, asbestos cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, mesothelioma symptoms, peritoneal mesothelioma, lung cancer

Aleksandr Kavokin, MD, PhD. Medical Articles http://www.kavokin.com, Free On-line diagnostics at http://www.symptomat.com, http://www.rdoctor.com

Asbestos the Silent Killer

An article about the history of asbestos and the potential future problems asbestos may cause. People fear that asbestos could cause an epidemic if it is not removed from places of business and homes quickly and appropriately.

Despite the fact the government banned the importation of blue and brown asbestos over twenty years ago and finally banned white asbestos in 1999, 3500 people currently die every year from asbestos related diseases.

Be it the lung choking ?asbestosis? or the cancer ?Mesothelioma? these diseases make asbestos the biggest industrial killer today.

In the 50?s and 60?s following World War 2, millions of tons of raw asbestos was imported into the UK to be made into building products and other industrial uses.

It was cheap, easy to mine and when added to various building products gave them extra strength and fire retardant properties.

Just what was needed to help the post war building boom.

However it was not until well into the sixties that it was discovered that the ingestion of its fibres caused terminal damage to peoples lungs.

All those people working in the factories using asbestos in their products had already been damaged by the microscopic fibres of asbestos. This was borne out by the climbing death rates in the late 80?s as it can take anything from 5 to 25 years for the asbestos dieses to kill you.

When the government brought in various bans on the importation and the using of asbestos in products they assumed by the turn of the new millennium there would be a fall in the number of deaths attributed to asbestos.

Unfortunately the exact opposite happened and the death toll continued to rise.

After some research the government found that because very few landlords or tenants of non-domestic buildings had bothered to have their building surveyed to find the whereabouts of any asbestos containing materials thousands of maintenance workers were coming into buildings and drilling holes or cutting out panels etc and disturbing the asbestos and on a regular basis breathing in small amounts of deadly fibres.

So as time went on they became infected and joined the numbers of people dying who had worked in the asbestos factories of the 50?s and 60?s.

Out of all this chaos was born the ?Control of Asbestos in the Workplace? legislation.

From May 2004 for the first time every owner or tenant, whoever was deemed responsible under the terms of leases, was legally obliged to have their premises surveyed and the position, quantity, condition and type of all ACM?s noted in a report form with a management plan to deal with the risk.

These reports would then be available to any employee or outside contractor who may want to work in the areas containing asbestos and following laid out ?Codes of Practice? take the necessary steps to minimise the release of harmful fibres into the atmosphere and subsequently into their lungs.

Simple precautions like not using power tools, wearing an appropriate face-mask, wearing throw away overalls and other very basic things will help stop the ingestion of deadly asbestos fibres.

Although this act will not immediately stop the death rate soaring to 10,000 deaths per year by 2020 eventually with the new knowledge and awareness of asbestos products contained in these reports we will see a decline in the death rate.

The message about asbestos is not to rip it out of buildings unnecessarily but to know of its whereabouts and manage it.

Only finally removing it under controlled conditions when it is damaged or disintegrating beyond reasonable repair.

Christopher Angus helps promote the following websites:

Printing Company
asbestos training
Oxford Double Glazing


Christopher Angus is a freelance writer and website promoter. He is available for hire.
Please contact him at chris (at) brilliantseo (dot) com

Christopher Angus is a freelance writer and journalist. He is available for hire and website promotion. Chris@brilliantseo.com He writes articles on behalf of clients for ?20.00 each ? These articles are then submitted to quality article directories

Asbestos Legislation

Since the introduction of the first Asbestos bill in Congress some 30 years ago, the scenario has changed tremendously. The number of claims that are filed today are many times greater than in previous years. Of these numerous cases, some hold the stand of real human sufferings while others hold the place of real forged means. This has made the efforts of legislation tougher and has initiated the need to implement certain general rules for all the people who are suffering or have suffered from the carcinogenic Asbestos exposure.

On May 26, 2005, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would establish a $140 billion fund for a no-fault, administrative program to provide compensation to the people afflicted with Asbestos-induced disease. The trial lawyers protested for the low amount being put for the victims of Asbestos, while the experts benefited their stand by commenting that it was not to be inclusive for the fraudulent cases. Many states in America are taking crucial and well-designed steps to prevent legal fraud.

Asbestos is a carcinogen to humans. It is a highly particulating fiber. When pressed with the hand, microscopic dust is released and is inhaled into the lungs. This produces a number of diseases relating to the lungs, including mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is one of the most common diseases associated with asbestos. There is much litigation surrounding mesothelioma.

To this day asbestos exists. It is near the end of being phased out from all public use. However, the fiber is more or less a naturally occuring substance, so it will never be completely eradicated.

Asbestos provides detailed information on asbestos, asbestos and mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, asbestos exposure and more. Asbestos is affliated with Lung Cancer Stages

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyers

Mesothelioma is only one of the asbestos-related diseases, but it is the most serious among them because it can be a deadly form of cancer that affects workers who have been working unprotected in an asbestos environment.

Mesothelioma cases in the States are still rare. It is estimated that there are about 2,000-3,000 new cases every year, but this is probably due to the fact that the majority of people who had been affected by asbestos in the 1930s and 1940s have already died and those who have been exposed to it in the 1960s-1970s still have not developed mesothelioma, so it is fair to say that more mesothelioma cases can be expected in the years to come.

Since mesothelioma is clearly related to unprotected exposure to asbestos in the past, there have been many lawsuits of the victims of the asbestos against companies, who instead of taking measures to protect them against the dangers, chose to hide from the general public facts about the devastating effects of asbestos on human health.

It is this wrongdoing that makes companies liable to their workers and gives grounds for asbestos mesothelioma lawyers to file lawsuits on behalf of their clients. There are lawyers who have significant experience in such cases and have won impressive verdicts for the companies, whose behavior was next to criminal.

Additionally, lawyers who have specialized in the area of mesothelioma know enough about the disease itself to plead the case in court and help their clients. There are mesothelioma lawyers who had virtually done miracles to defect their clients in court!

Therefore, if you or your family is considering starting a mesothelioma lawsuit, the first thing to do is to find a good asbestos mesothelioma lawyer.

Asbestos Lawyers provides detailed information on Asbestos Lawyers, Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyers, Asbestos Trial Lawyers, Asbestos Lawsuits and more. Asbestos Lawyers is affliated with Asbestos Litigation Attourneys

Asbestos And Mesothelioma 1

Asbestos, a naturally occurring complex silicate, was extensively used in many industries, including insulation in shipbuilding, manufacture of brake lining, and automobiles. Asbestos is a common name given to a group of six fibrous minerals which have their existence in two general forms, friable and non-friable. The toxic effects induced by asbestos inhalation include desquamating alveolitis, bronchiolitis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Other more serious health ailments caused by asbestos exposure include pleural effusion, pleural plaques, pleural calcification, and Mesothelioma (a highly malignant disease).

Mesothelioma, a serious health problem associated with asbestos exposure, starts when cells found in mesothelium (a protective lining that covers most of the internal organs of the body) becomes abnormal and divides without control and order. These cancer cells may spread to damage tissues and organs. The diagnosis of Mesothelioma is difficult by pleural cytology. The characteristic radiographic feature of the disease is massive pleural effusion.

The disease is almost three times more common in males as compared to females. The maximum number of Mesothelioma cases is reported in the age group of 40-60 years. The most common symptoms observed during the onset of Mesothelioma include asthenia, breathlessness, and dull chest pain. Other less frequent symptoms include cough, fever, and loss of weight. Haemoptysis is a symptom of Mesothelioma which is rarely observed.

The therapeutic (chemotherapy or immunotherapy) means are mostly unable to help significantly in the treatment. Even radiotherapy and pleurectomy fail as effective treatment options. The average patient survival after the diagnosis of Mesothelioma is 8 to 10 months. The most preferable option can be of preventive treatment for Mesothelioma. Strict industrial safety measures, proper hygiene, and regular check up of workers exposed to asbestos must form the crucial part of serious Mesothelioma preventive treatment methods.

Asbestos provides detailed information on asbestos, asbestos and mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, asbestos exposure and more. Asbestos is affliated with Lung Cancer Stages

Asbestos - The Health Risks

In this second article of a series we're going to cover the health risks associated with exposure to asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos can cause a number of health problems including, lung cancer, Mesothelioma, asbestosis and other cancers.

Asbestosis is a chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath coughing and even permanent lung damage.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen. While very rare it is also very serious.

The people at risk for these ailments are anyone who has been exposed to asbestos at any time during their life. However, most people exposed to asbestos do not become ill. Only those exposed to it constantly over a long period of time usually develop symptoms. Most of these people are usually those who have a job that requires them to work with or be around asbestos throughout the day.

Since the early 1940's millions of people have been exposed to asbestos. The first workers to show signs of asbestos related health problems were those who worked in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles, insulation work, demolition workers, drywall workers and fire fighters. Today, improved work practices and regulations make exposure to asbestos in these industries less likely.

Even though it is generally believed that the most seriously ill people from asbestos are those who have suffered from long term exposure, there are cases of those who have only had brief exposure who have become ill as well. The problem is, asbestos exposure related illnesses can take from 10 to 40 years to show up. So a child exposed in school at age 13 may not develop any symptoms until he or she is past age 50.

There is also some evidence that suggests that family members of those who work in asbestos related fields can come down with asbestos related illnesses because of the asbestos fibers that are brought into the house by the worker's shoes and clothes. This type of exposure is called paraoccupational exposure. In order to decrease this risk, workers who are exposed to asbestos should wash their clothes and change before coming home. It is also suggested that they shower first if possible.

So just how great is the risk? Not all workers who are exposed to asbestos develop health problems. A lot has to do with the type of exposure. Asbestos that is encased and unlikely to break apart into the atmosphere presents less of a threat than asbestos that is not encased. Also, the general health of the worker comes into play as well. A worker who already has health related issues or who smokes is more likely to suffer from asbestos related illness. Also, the type of asbestos the worker is exposed to will have a great effect on the worker's health. Some forms of asbestos are more dangerous than others, depending on the concentration and the length of exposure.

In our final article of this series we'll go over how to determine if you might have an asbestos related health problem and if so, what to do about it.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Asbestos in Floor Tiles

If you have even a passing interest in the topic of asbestos, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of asbestos.

Since the discovery of the deadly effects asbestos has on health, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has created regulations to control the management, removal and disposal of asbestos material. One of the materials containing asbestos is vinyl floor tile (VAT). To handle them safely it is important to ensure that the material is in non-friable state. If the material is friable, the asbestos fibers can be freed when smashed. Generally, VAT is regarded as non-friable if it is not damaged.

When removing asbestos floor tiles, some problems might arise that can be potentially hazardous. Some of the difficulties that you will have to tackle are breathing through respirator which demands a greater effort from the heart and lungs. The vision is reduced because of the use of safety glasses.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of asbestos is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about asbestos.

The removal of VAT has to be done in whole pieces in order to be regarded as non-friable. It vital that in the process of abatement the tiles are not sawed, drilled or reduced to dust.

Before starting the work, it is important to isolate other materials with a plastic cover to avoid the fibers to move. Place a different sheet of plastic in the area where the tiles are to be kept.

The material that is being removed should be wetted with a hose or any other tool to prevent them from becoming airborne. The tiles removed should be kept as intact pieces.

The tiles should be put in leak proof containers such as plastic bags and the sign " DANGER ASBESTOS-CONTAING MATERIALS" must be placed on the container. Sometimes it's tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I'm positive you'll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos
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James Mahony is the founder of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Information, A site dedicated to mesothelioma and asbestos information

Mesothelioma and Asbestos
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EPA Testing For Asbestos Surrounding Ground Zero Will Go Forward

After nearly four years, the EPA announced on November 29 that it will begin testing of residential and commercial spaces which may have been exposed to environmental toxins following the 9/11 destruction of the World Trade centers. In a much-maligned plan by local residents and even EPA panel member, testing of structures in lower Manhattan will begin in early in 2006. The area within borders between Canal street to the north and west of Pike and Allen Streets will be evaluated for a number of substances which could pose a risk to residents, including asbestos. Testing will be done on a voluntary basis.

Asbestos was used for insulation in the north tower of the World Trade center through the 40th floor. As a result of the collapse of the buildings, an enormous amount of debris containing asbestos was released into the air. In the week following the disaster, New Yorkers were told that the air was safe to breathe; yet were also instructed to clean dust carefully and avoid inhalation. The EPA later concluded that the announcement that the air was not dangerous was premature. Because of the prolonged period of time before disease manifests, it will be years before the true toll of asbestos exposure surrounding Ground Zero will be revealed.

While the plan calls for an expenditure of $7 million, those who oppose the plan feel it is inadequate. Concerned residents argued at a meeting at the Alexander Hamilton US customs house on December 13 that the testing is flawed because of it?s tightly limited geographical area, questionable methodology and voluntary nature. Distrust of the government agency stems from assurances by former EPA Administrator Christine Todd-Whitman that the air surrounding the site of the terrorist attack was safe to breathe in the days after the collapse. Timothy Oppelt, Chair of the EPA technical panel investigating the issue was quoted in NY Newsday as feeling that the plan "incorporates the best science available today." (12/13/05).

A review of some of the comments of the panelists as posted on the EPA website confirmed that there are many questions about the completeness of the EPA plan. Although the area to be tested is limited to lower Manhattan south of Canal Street, dust and debris spread to a far wider area, into Brooklyn and beyond. Other concerns include the testing methodology planned.

Most published research on asbestos related illnesses related to long-term exposure, rather that a single extreme exposure as experienced after the WTC collapse. Mesothelioma is most often found in asbestos workers following years of work-place exposure. The disease has been found, however, in worker?s spouses, presumably as a result of handling dust ridden work garments. Little data on single exposure is available, and leaves many questions unanswered.

This information, and the experience of the residents of the vermiculite-mining town of Libby, Montana point to a potentially serious problem in lower Manhattan. Blanketed by debris on every surface, with visibility limited to just a few feet in the days after the attack, the extreme nature of exposure following 9/11 is unprecedented.Visit http://www.mesothelioma.com for comprehensive mesothelioma and asbestos exposure information.