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The dangers of asbestos exposure were hidden from the public for much of the 20th century
One of the more frustrating aspects of asbestos exposure and the rise of mesothelioma cancer throughout the 20th Century is that many of the health risks attributed to the fibers were known, and yet ignored, by companies who ended up putting many of their employees in harm’s way as a result.
Asbestos has been used in the creation of a number of products for hundreds of years, dating all the way back to Marco Polo during his travels in China and their use of the fibers for insulation or braiding or ropes that could be used as wicks in their candles.
In terms of its use – and medical consequences - in the modern age, asbestos products such asinsulation for steam and fire-powered machinery became increasingly popular in the United States. As the years wore on, the fire-retardant fibers were also used in a number of other products, including concrete, ceiling insulation, flooring and roofing tiles, and many parts for ships being built for use in the Navy.
However, as asbestos’ popularity grew, there were already signs that people who were exposed to asbestos were developing health problems. As early as the 1st Century, Roman historian Pliny the Elder had noted that slaves in asbestos mines had been coming down with respiratory diseases in increased numbers. In 1906, the first attributable death to asbestos was declared officially, and mesothelioma – as well as its connection with asbestos inhalation – had been documented in medical literature by the 1940s.
Despite the growing medical evidence, which eventually included a landmark article published by a British medical journal in 1960 that showed undeniable links between mesothelioma and asbestos – companies continued to use the fibers and expose their workers to them without proper protective equipment. It was not until 1970 that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency passed the Clean Air Act - which classified asbestos as a hazardous air pollutant.
One year later, a federal court upheld the first awarding of damages to a worker from an asbestos maker. However, asbestos production did not hit its peak until 1976, and the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act – which tightened restriction on asbestos use - was not passed by Congress until 1986.
If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos on a regular basis while working for an employer that did not adequately protect them from the fibers and has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or asbestosis, there may be legal options that can be pursued. Contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn more about the steps that must be taken in order to bring about a lawsuit against the employer that could result in a monetary settlement.
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