New York Mesothelioma Attorney Commends Continued Efforts To Raise Awareness About Asbestos
New York personal injury attorney Joseph W. Belluck recently said that an event such as the recent Global Asbestos Awareness Week conference, held through April 3rd in Atlanta, reminds the public that people continue to suffer from asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
“An event like this calls attention to the fact that asbestos exposure is not a thing of the past,” said Belluck, a partner in the New York law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP, who has been a national leader in seeking justice for asbestos victims and their survivors. “People continue to die from diseases such as mesothelioma that have been linked to this toxic material.”
Asbestos was sold and used for decades without warnings in a variety of insulation, automotive brakes, fireproofing, pipe covering, cements, refractory materials, gaskets, floor tiles and joint compounds. Most asbestos products were banned in the U.S. and abroad in the 1980s, but the threat of exposure remains, especially among construction and general industry workers, Belluck said.
“People don’t realize how widespread asbestos remains in older products, buildings and factories, or how many workers the disease affects,” Belluck said. “Hopefully, greater public awareness can help build support for additional research dollars to find ways to identify and help people who are likely to develop mesothelioma.”
Mesothelioma is an incurable form of cancer caused specifically by exposure to asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure, and are often not diagnosed until the disease is at an advanced stage. Current estimates indicate that close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year.
According to the event’s website, the conference brought together leading international experts “to discuss the impact of asbestos on public health, the environment and the economy.” The Global Asbestos Awareness Week conference was organized by the non-profit Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and supported by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
“We congratulate the organizations for sponsoring this important event,” Belluck said. “Belluck & Fox is proud to be an annual sponsor of this event and support the work of ADAO.”
ADAO was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is the largest independent organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases.
