Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer in the tissues of the lungs and other organs. A diagnosis of mesothelioma means one’s family will probably be preparing for the worst. The patient faces the possibility of multiple surgeries, radiation and chemo treatments along with their respective side effects. Mesothelioma and some other cancers are known to result from asbestos exposure, and the state of Ohio is among those that have more than their fair share of suffering.
Ohio is among the ten states with the highest rates of cancers caused by contact with asbestos. In fact, over 2,000 people in the state died from mesothelioma in the past 15 years. Many of those deaths were concentrated in Cleveland and other large cities. This is believed to be because the state’s common industries are those that use asbestos.
Men and women who worked in factories, metal plants or auto assembly lines may find themselves facing a grim diagnosis. Some vermiculite plants used raw materials that were known to contain asbestos. Any occupation that involved working around high heat or required substantial use of insulation or fireproofing may have also put employees at a higher risk for certain cancers and lung ailments.
Businesses in Ohio and across the country are required to protect their workers and the general public from toxic pollutants in the air. Because these protections can be expensive, companies may attempt to bypass them at the expense of their workers and those who live nearby. When this happens, people are at risk for life-threatening illnesses caused by asbestos exposure. People who are diagnosed with mesothelioma often find help for their medical bills and support for their families by contacting an attorney with experience in asbestos claims.
Source: asbestos. com, “Asbestos in Ohio“, Accessed on Sept. 23, 2016
