There was a time a few years ago when lawsuits, shocking industrial abuses, and widespread treatments for Mesothelioma dominated most discussion about cancer and cancer patients in many areas of the country. That’s because of the insidious nature of the disease, which invades the internal linings of a person’s entire body, and the fact that it often takes decades to develop and be discovered.
In fact, civil court cases in the 1980s and 1990s related to injuries and disease were dominated by Mesothelioma. It has been linked primarily to inhaling asbestos particles, often in an industrial or factory setting. As the years have gone by, however, court cases related to the disease have declined. Most factories and public buildings in recent decades have been stripped of asbestos and the hazardous material is not as great of a threat to workers and the public as it was.
However, the problem has not gone away. Just yesterday, I saw a small article about a retired handyman in Illinois who was awarded $2 Million in a lawsuit against a company which produced asbestos-rich products. The court decided there were inadequate warnings on the materials the man had used and he was exposed to the disease as a result — which he now has.
I’ve said all that to say this: You need to be very careful about your environment, whether in your home or work place, and live as safely as you possibly can. Avoid breathing or drinking dangerous substances by taking the time to think and to protect yourself as much as possible.
Not to be an alarmist, but who knows what “harmless” substances we breathe or ingest today might sicken or kill us tomorrow?