The history of asbestos use
has left a legacy of illness in hundreds of thousands of American
families. It has been called one of the largest man-made epidemics in
U.S. history. Sadly, it was preventable. Health conditions resulting
from asbestos exposure were noted as early as the year 100, when Roman
Naturalist Pliny the Elder reported the dangers that appeared to stem
from asbestos exposure among slaves at asbestos job sites. These slaves
suffered gruesome, painful respiratory diseases and died at young ages.
Contrary to this realization, asbestos use was only in its beginning
stages.
For centuries, asbestos use continued to increase. Originally praised for its fireproofing abilities, the mineral was frequently used in products such as:
As years went on, executives at asbestos manufacturing companies continued to cover up any illness among employees exposed to asbestos. They were able to do this by destroying evidence such as doctor’s notes, reports and memos detailing the dangers of asbestos. Instead of preventing the asbestos exposure or providing protective gear to employees, executives quietly offered compensation to those dealing with health problems from exposure that occurred while on the job. This forced employees to keep quiet about the underlying cause of their illness.
Eventually, the asbestos corporate cover-ups became apparent. The cover-ups primarily came to light through the efforts of labor and trade unions striving for safer working conditions. The discovery of 6,000 pages of documents called the Sumner Simpson papers revealed a cover up of the dangers of asbestos exposure planned by asbestos industry executives. The conspiracy dated back for nearly half a century when the secret documents were found by a plaintiff’s attorney in 1977.
At this time, mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits began to uncover the wrong-doings of asbestos companies as well. These lawsuits provide justice to the innocent sufferers of deadly diseases like mesothelioma. Although asbestos is not entirely banned in the United States, progress has been made in the effort to raise awareness of asbestos health hazards and the dangers of asbestos exposure.
For centuries, asbestos use continued to increase. Originally praised for its fireproofing abilities, the mineral was frequently used in products such as:
- Gaskets
- Fire retardant coatings
- Concrete
- Bricks
- Pipes
- Cement
- Pipe insulation
- Fireproof drywall
- Flooring
- Roofing
- Joint compound
- Fire resistant clothing
- And more
As years went on, executives at asbestos manufacturing companies continued to cover up any illness among employees exposed to asbestos. They were able to do this by destroying evidence such as doctor’s notes, reports and memos detailing the dangers of asbestos. Instead of preventing the asbestos exposure or providing protective gear to employees, executives quietly offered compensation to those dealing with health problems from exposure that occurred while on the job. This forced employees to keep quiet about the underlying cause of their illness.
Eventually, the asbestos corporate cover-ups became apparent. The cover-ups primarily came to light through the efforts of labor and trade unions striving for safer working conditions. The discovery of 6,000 pages of documents called the Sumner Simpson papers revealed a cover up of the dangers of asbestos exposure planned by asbestos industry executives. The conspiracy dated back for nearly half a century when the secret documents were found by a plaintiff’s attorney in 1977.
At this time, mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits began to uncover the wrong-doings of asbestos companies as well. These lawsuits provide justice to the innocent sufferers of deadly diseases like mesothelioma. Although asbestos is not entirely banned in the United States, progress has been made in the effort to raise awareness of asbestos health hazards and the dangers of asbestos exposure.
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