Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has had to deal with the aftermath of a wide-spread asbestos problem. It is a state which has thrived on industries such as shipping, manufacturing and mining - and all of these industries have relied on products made from asbestos.
Asbestos was put into production as a construction material many years ago. When it was first discovered, nobody knew it was dangerous, so industries like the ones listed above commonly used it within their plant facilities.
Asbestos Exposure in Pennsylvania
The common use of asbestos in facilities such as electric companies, steel mills, power plants, ship yards and more have resulted in a large amount of asbestos exposure. Products made from asbestos will sometimes break down, and allow toxic fibers into the air. These fibers can stick to clothing or skin, and can be easily inhaled. Once asbestos has been in haled, it can cause cancer.
Another way that asbestos was introduced into the Pennsylvania work place was through the use of a material known as vermiculite. Vermiculite is a product that is often used to make insulation. It occurs naturally, and is frequently found in the same area as naturally-occurring asbestos. Because asbestos consists of tiny fibers, any materials found near a supply of asbestos are likely to become contaminated with it.
The W.R. Grace and Company mined huge amounts of vermiculite in Montana. This company shipped its products to many states, including Pennsylvania. Between the years 1948 and 1993, it is estimated that PA received around 425,000 tons of vermiculite. These shipments were sent to at least ten different facilities. This helped the asbestos to be spread to an even larger area around Pennsylvania.
Asbestos and vermiculite cause diseases such as mesothelioma, a form of thoracic cancer. The various industries which utilized asbestos and vermiculite helped contribute to a very large number of cases of Mesothelioma.
Removing Asbestos
The Environmental Network provides a long list of professional asbestos removers in Pennsylvania. No private citizen or business owner should ever attempt to remove or destroy this dangerous material on their own; it should only be handled by a qualified professional.
Many large plants that used massive amounts of asbestos materials had to be shut down, and sometimes even destroyed. Any facility with asbestos or vermiculite must be dealt with by a company that is certified to handle these dangerous materials.
Asbestos related deaths in Pennsylvania
The enormous amount of asbestos found in Pennsylvania, both naturally and within industry, has contributed to over 3,000 deaths between the years of 1980 and 2000. Data put together by The EWG Action Fund has shown the top three counties for asbestos related deaths to be Philadelphia County, Delaware County and Allegheny County. Many counties and cities have been affected by this type of tragedy.
Asbestos lawsuits in Pennsylvania
Hundreds of lawsuits have been brought forth due to exposure to asbestos; and these cases are often very high profile. One of the primary issues that have fueled the number of lawsuits is the realization that many companies knew they had asbestos on their premises, and yet did nothing about it. It has been well known for years that asbestos is very hazardous to the health of anyone who comes into contact with it, and yet many of these business owners did not even warn their employees about the presence of asbestos. By now most of the sites containing asbestos have been cleaned up or shut down. However, even today new cases of disease or death following asbestos exposure at the work place are being reported, and new claims are being filed.
What to do if you have been exposed to asbestos
First off, seek medical treatment. Pennsylvania has a two year statute of limitations for negligence and personal injury, and for wrongful death. The official rule for when the statue of limitations for wrongful death begins is when the decedent (and it must be the decedent - not a representative) might reasonably have had cause to discover the injury or cause which led to the wrongful death.
Asbestos is a highly toxic substance. If you have been exposed, you must know what to do next. We offer a free information packet that explains how to react if you have come into contact with any form of asbestos. Contact us today for a copy.
Last modified: December 09 2009.
