Oregon Mesothelioma Attorney

An Oregon mesothelioma attorney can assist you in filing a law suit against the company or persons responsible for asbestos contamination in case you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. An experienced Oregon mesothelioma lawyer will help you make a case that can result in a positive outcome.

There are many companies and industries across the United States that use asbestos in various operations because of which, hundreds of workers are unknowingly exposed to the hazards posed by this toxic mineral. Not only is this mineral dangerous for workers, but it is also harmful for their families as well. The fibers of asbestos can get attached to the clothing of workers and can cause asbestos related conditions in the family members of these workers as well.

Asbestos fibers are very fine, and minute. These microscopic fibers can easily become airborne when asbestos is disturbed. Naturally occurring asbestos is found all across the United States of America [1], and it is used abundantly in industries where once it starts to age, it can release these fibers in the atmosphere. Workers unknowingly inhale or ingest these fibers because of which asbestos related conditions develop like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of a lung cancer caused by the exposure to asbestos especially in the form of asbestos fibers [2]. It primarily affects the thin lining covering the lungs, abdomen, heart and various other vital internal organs. The development of the disease initiates when a person ingests or inhales airborne fibers of asbestos which are very fine and minute and can easily enter the human respiratory system. Once within the respiratory system, these fibers deposit in the lungs, initially casing difficulty in breathing and eventually, a cancer. One of the greatest factors behind making the diagnosis of this disease rather difficult is the fact that it does not present any symptom or manifestations till years and in some cases, decades after the initial exposure that triggered the development of the disease. Treatment and management is possible if the disease is detected at an early stage, but after the detection of the disease, a person only has a year to 18 months on an average to live. Proper treatment can however delay the disease to some extent but the fact remains that mesothelioma is fatal to humans.

Occupations that put workers at risk of asbestos contamination:

If you have been exposed to asbestos or its fibers at a work site, it is possible to file a law suit against the persons responsible for causing this contamination by contacting an Oregon mesothelioma attorney. Asbestos was regarded as a profitable substance with countless properties and hence it was used readily and widely in the industrial sector of nearly all states across America.

Some of the major industries making use of asbestos were ship yards and ship breaking companies, steel mills, oil refineries, paper and pulp production companies, power generation plants, construction industry, factories and various other sites. Because of the fact that mesothelioma takes years and sometimes decades to present symptoms, a lot of cases of asbestos exposure which may have occurred years ago are only starting to show themselves now. Anyone who has worked at asbestos contaminated areas before the ban, before the 1980’s is prone to developing the deadly disease and hence it is important for all workers and residents near the sites to acquire medical attention for timely treatment and diagnosis. Asbestos was used in the construction of many buildings and structures, many of which still stand today. These buildings also pose a grave threat to human lives and hence it is important to ensure that you are safe from the asbestos fibers that may be released as a result of wear and tear or renovation projects of these buildings and facilities.

The following jobsites have been contaminated with asbestos:

In Portland: The Albina Shipyard, ALCOA Steamship Company, Arden’s Farm Dairy, Arrow Auto Service, Borden’s Chemical Plant, Chevron Plant, Chief Joseph School, Commercial Iron Works Shipyard and many more.

In other cities: American Can Paper Mill in Halsey, the 3M plant in Medford, American Steel & Wire Co. in Cleveland, Astoria naval shipyard in Astoria, Chipman Chemical, Boise Cascade Paper Mill in St. Helens, Astoria Oil Services in Astoria and others. These sites are known for asbestos contamination in the state of Oregon.

Fatalities resulting from asbestos exposure in Oregon

In the state of Oregon, between the year 1979 and 1999, 1128 fatalities have been reported. A total of 2343 fatalities have been reported resulting from mesothelioma [3] in the figure doubled from half the previous year. There are millions of people living in the state and this figure may seem insignificant but these numbers and figures are important to determine the prevalence and incidence of the disease and the likelihood of the numbers to increase in the future. It is likely that the figures might increase because of the nature of the disease and the fact that there are still many sources that can cause asbestos exposure at various locations in Oregon. There are many navy veterans and engineers working in the state, along with workers at steel mills and machinist who may not be aware of the fact that they are being exposed to the toxic mineral at their work sites, which is harmful for their health and that of their families.