Asbestos History: Mesothelioma Help and Legal Assistance
In the pursuit of justice for mesothelioma victims, understanding the history of asbestos is crucial. This mineral, once celebrated for its versatility, has left a trail of devastating health consequences. If you or a loved one are seeking legal assistance for a mesothelioma lawsuit, our dedicated team is here to help you find the right lawyer.
The Rise and Fall of Asbestos: A Brief History
Asbestos, with its exceptional fire-resistant and insulating properties, enjoyed widespread use throughout the 20th century. It found its way into various industries, from construction to shipbuilding, and was hailed as a miracle material. However, its hidden dangers soon began to emerge.
The Mesothelioma Connection
Decades of exposure to asbestos fibers led to an alarming rise in mesothelioma cases. Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, primarily affects the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of this devastating disease.
Legal Recourse for Mesothelioma Victims
If you or someone you know is battling mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, seeking legal help is essential. Our platform is dedicated to connecting mesothelioma victims with experienced lawyers who specialize in asbestos-related cases.
How We Can Assist You
Our mission is to make the process of finding a mesothelioma lawyer as smooth as possible. We understand the urgency of your situation and the emotional toll it can take. By providing you with easy access to a network of legal experts, we aim to alleviate the burden on you and your family during this challenging time.
Why Choose Us?
- Expertise: We work exclusively with law firms experienced in handling mesothelioma cases, ensuring you receive the best legal representation.
- Compassion: We understand the sensitivity of your situation and offer compassionate support throughout your journey.
- Results: Our track record of successful outcomes in mesothelioma cases speaks for itself.
Understanding the history of asbestos is pivotal in comprehending the gravity of mesothelioma cases. If you need assistance in finding a lawyer for a mesothelioma lawsuit, our platform is dedicated to providing you with the guidance and legal support you deserve. Don't wait; reach out to us today for a helping hand in your pursuit of justice.
Our nationwide toll free number to get help is (888) 291-0963
Pre 1860:
In ancient Rome, asbestos fibers were uses to make clothing flame retardant.
In Greece, the fibers were used to make other textiles.
In Persia, garments were prized for their ability to be cleaned over a fire, instead of with water.
In China, Marco Polo describes similar items that were "washed" by being dropped into flames.
1860: Asbestos had appeared again across the United States and Canada, mostly used as insulation within buildings.
1879: The first commercial asbestos mine appeared in Canada, just outside of Quebec.
1890s: Asbestos which previously had few industrial uses, becomes a raw material for large manufacturing industries, exposing large numbers of workers to asbestos dust for the first time. Asbestos-caused disease often develops decades after a person was first exposed. As a result, it was not until the early 1900s that large numbers of workers developed symptoms.
1899: First published case of asbestos lung scarring caused by asbestos exposure.
1890 – 1909: By the turn of the century, asbestos use was much more common: flame-resistant coatings, concrete, flooring, roofing, acid resistant materials, and lawn furniture all had asbestos components. The appearance of asbestos in late 19th and early 20th century newspapers was relatively limited. In many cases, reporting on asbestos was limited to its discovery or its uses in antiquity.
1917: Dr. Henry Pancoast of (University of Pennsylvania Medical School) finds lung scarring in X-rays of asbestos-factory workers.
1918: A Prudential Insurance Company official notes that life insurance companies will not cover asbestos workers, because of the "health-injurious conditions of the industry."
1922: Louis Dublin, a statistician for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, writes that asbestos workers are at risk of injury to the lungs.
1924: A doctor in England recognized the pattern of illness and made the first diagnosis of asbestos cancer. Dr. W.E. Cooke publishes an article in British Medical Journal describing the death of a person who had been exposed to asbestos.
1927: First workmen’s compensation disability claim for asbestosis upheld by Massachusetts Industrial Accident Board.
1930: Dr. Edward Merewether publishes first clinical examination of workers in England’s asbestos industry. He found that 1 out of 4 was suffering from asbestosis. He found that workers who suffered asbestos exposure would not show signs of injury for many years and workers exposed to asbestos should be informed and warned in order to give them a “sane appreciation of the risk”.
1930: A British medical journal offers the first comprehensive look at the clinical effects of asbestosis and recommends safety measures.
1930: Major asbestos company Johns-Manville produces report, for internal company use only, about medical reports of asbestos worker fatalities.
1932: Letter from U.S. Bureau of Mines to asbestos manufacturer Eagle-Picher states: "It is now known that asbestos dust is one of the most dangerous dusts to which man is exposed."
1933: First American case report of asbestosis in an insulation worker.
1933: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company doctors find that 29% of the workers at one Johns-Manville plant are suffering from asbestosis. Johns-Manville settles lawsuits by 11 employees on the condition that the lawyer for the employees agrees that he will not bring any new actions against Johns-Manville.
1934: Researchers report cases of asbestosis and lung cancer among asbestos factory workers, construction workers, shipyard workers, boiler workers, custodians and insulators. Many of them had less than s6 months of exposure to asbestos.
1934: Officials of two large asbestos companies, Johns-Manville and Raybestos-Manhattan, edit an article about the diseases of asbestos workers written by a Metropolitan Life Insurance Company doctor. The changes minimize the danger of asbestos dust.
1935: Johns-Manville and Raybestos Manhattan instruct the editor of Asbestos Magazine to publish nothing about asbestosis.
1936: A group of asbestos companies agree to sponsor research on the health effects of asbestos dust, but require that the companies have complete control over the disclosure of the results.
1937: Roy Bonsib, Chief Safety Inspector for the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, documents illnesses such as asbestosis and analyzes the dust-creating potential of installing and removing asbestos insulation.
1937-38: The Industrial Hygiene Digest at the Industrial Hygiene Foundation includes 2 articles about industrial types of cancer by workers working with asbestos.
1940 to 1979: Approximately 27.5 million Americans are exposed to asbestos.
1942: An Owens Corning corporate memorandum refers to "medical literature on asbestosis . . . [and] scores of publications in which the lung and skin hazards of asbestos are discussed."
1943: First case of a Mesothelioma-like tumor reported.
1942 or 1943: The president of Johns-Manville says that the managers of another asbestos company were "a bunch of fools for notifying employees who had asbestosis." When one of the managers asks, "do you mean to tell me you would let them work until they dropped dead?" The response is reported to have been, "Yes. We save a lot of money that way." Testimony of Charles H. Roemer, Deposition taken April 25, 1984, Johns-Manville Corp., et al v. the United States of America,
1944: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company finds 42 cases of asbestosis among 195 asbestos miners.
1944: The Journal of the Medical Association reports that asbestos is one of the "agents known or suspected to cause occupational cancer."
1948: The American Petroleum Institutes Medical Advisory Committee, whose members include oil giants, received a summary of a paper in which the chief pathologist for E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. suggested that the industry "aim at the complete elimination of the exposure" to asbestos.
1949: Encyclopedia Britannica lists asbestos as a cause of occupational and environmental cancer. The Journal of the American Medical Association concurs.
1951: Asbestos companies remove all references to cancer before allowing publication of research they sponsor concerning exposure to asbestos.