New Jersey
The state of New Jersey does feature sources of naturally-occurring asbestos. Any geographic location with natural asbestos poses a greater risk to nearby citizens. Asbestos is known to cause lung cancer, and the disease Mesothelioma, so anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should seek immediate medical attention.
Asbestos sites in New Jersey
There have been several sites in New Jersey which have been found to contain asbestos. Two of the best well-known locations where naturally-occurring asbestos has been discovered are in Edgewater, NJ and Trenton, NJ.
For many years asbestos was commonly used in construction materials and other man-made products. Asbestos is often found in shipyards, power plants and construction work sites. It can also be found in common materials used in homes or businesses - most notably in insulation. As recently as 2007 an elementary school in New Jersey was closed after the discovery of asbestos in several classrooms.
New Jersey has many thriving industries such as ship building and construction. Asbestos has been regularly found in work sites such as these, so anyone who has been employed in these areas is at risk.
The federal government has put two New Jersey businesses on a list of contaminated sites. They are The Zonolite Company/W.R. Grace Plant, and the Celotex Plant. If you, or anyone you know, were employed by either location, see a doctor right away.
Removing Asbestos
Asbestos should be removed only by a licensed company which has been certified to deal with this dangerous substance. No private individual should try to remove asbestos on their own, or they will be at great risk for exposure.
If you have asbestos in your home or office, contact a qualified removal service to dispose of it properly. Seek out a licensed abatement company through a contractor or other licensed abatement service.
Asbestos related deaths in New Jersey
New Jersey has had a high death rate from asbestos exposure. Since 1980 there have been more than 2,800 deaths reported. Two counties in particular, Camden and Somerset, have been noted for having especially high death rates due to Mesothelioma.
One of the primary reasons there have been so many deaths was uncovered when it was discovered that certain companies in New Jersey knew they had asbestos on their premises, and did not let anyone know. They made no attempts to have the asbestos removed, and did not warn people of the danger, which resulted in ongoing exposure to their employees.
Asbestos lawsuits in New Jersey
New Jersey has been proven to be one of the top ten states for asbestos exposure and Mesothelioma. There have been many individual and group lawsuits brought against companies which have allowed their employees to become exposed to this dangerous material.
What to do if you have been exposed to Asbestos
First off, seek medical treatment. A wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey does not have any limit on the amount that each case may be settled for. There is, however, a two year statute of limitations for reporting such lawsuits. Once you know that you have been exposed, it is advisable to find legal counsel right away.
Asbestos is a very dangerous substance - if you or a loved one believe you may have been exposed, monitor your health closely and seek out our free information packet about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
