Knowledge that Asbestos Leads to Mesothelioma Known Decades Ago
Many of our clients who contract mesothelioma were unaware of the hazards of breathing asbestos during the time when they were exposed. Many clients report that they only first heard of the hazards associated with breathing asbestos in the late 1980s or 1990s, through the media, or when someone they knew contracted an asbestos-related disease.
This is especially distressing because knowledge that inhalation of asbestos fibers could result in disabling and fatal lung disease was known by doctors and scientists going back to the early 1930s. Indeed, in 1933, an article was published in a widely circulated scientific journal in the United States that identified asbestos as a workplace hazard.
The article contained recommended steps to be taken to reduce dust and, thus, the incidence of asbestos-related disease. Some of the industrial hygiene principals enunciated in the 1930’s are ones employed today, such as:
- using wet down techniques,
- isolating work activities,
- installing ventilation systems to reduce dust, and
- issuing respirators and educating the workers about the hazard.
Unfortunately, these recommendations were not widely adopted before the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in the early 1970s.
Part of the problem that prevented the word about the dangers of asbestos reaching the workers earlier was that companies making asbestos products did not do their part to impart the knowledge or protect workers. They did not issue warnings telling users that the product contained asbestos, or that harmful fibers were released when their product was used as intended, or that the user should avoid breathing dust because breathing asbestos dust could result in fatal lung disease and cancer.
Had warnings been issued on asbestos-containing products, awareness would have been heightened and the incidence of asbestos-related disease could have been reduced. Such failure is a true tragedy.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact one of the experienced mesothelioma attorneys at Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason, and let us help you. We specialize in handling only asbestos lawsuits and are experts in our field.
