American Workers Still Exposed to Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos

Prominent New York personal injury attorney Joseph Belluck encourages Americans to reflect on the difficulties many workers still face as the Labor Day weekend comes to a close.  Since 1882 we have been celebrating the social and economic achievements of the American worker, but many workers continue to endure unnecessary health risks from asbestos exposure.  Asbestos is a human carcinogen and is known to cause mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly.  Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.

Thousands of workers in a variety of industries have been affected by the dangerous nature of asbestos fibers. Certain industries, such as the construction and the maritime industries, have a greater occurrence of asbestos-related disease than others do. Some of the construction trades most at risk from asbestos include (but are not limited to): insulators, plumbers and pipefitters, electricians, sheet metal workers, or construction worker involved in the remodeling, or demolition of an old (pre-1970′s) building.

“Labor Day is the perfect time to highlight areas where we must work more diligently to protect workers,” says Belluck. “People are coming in contact with asbestos and they are not being protected,” he adds.