Exelon/Exelon Generation
Exelon Corporation is one of the world's largest producers and wholesale marketers of power. The corporation, via its operating company Exelon Generation, owns and operates a variety of power generation facilities which use wind energy, fossil fuels, landfill gas, hydroelectric energy and solar energy.
The bulk of its operations involve nuclear power. Exelon Generation operates 10 nuclear power plants with a total of 17 reactors, making it the largest U.S. owner of nuclear plants.
Exelon has a long history of creating environmental concerns. It was discovered in 2005 that the company was allowing emissions of sulfur dioxide at its plant in Chester, Pennsylvania, that significantly exceeded the acceptable limits. The following year it was learned that that the company – and the state of Illinois – had waited four years to report the fact that millions of gallons of tritium-tainted water had been spilled from its Braidwood Nuclear Plant near Chicago. Over the years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory organizations have imposed millions of dollars in fines against the company.
Exelon/Exelon Generation and Asbestos
The toxic and carcinogenic properties of asbestos have been known since the 1930s, when articles about the dangers of the mineral first appeared in medical journals. Researchers and scientists knew asbestos was making workers in power plants and other facilities sick with respiratory illnesses, and many company doctors recommended that its use be stopped. Because it was an effective and inexpensive insulator, however, asbestos was used in power plants of every type until the late 1970s when laws began to regulate its use.
As a result of the company's extended use of asbestos within power plants, many workers were regularly exposed to the material. Numerous employees later developed serious pulmonary diseases including asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Exelon Corporation and Asbestos Litigation
When the dangers of asbestos were made public in the late 1970s, it became clear that many employers negligently disregarded the health of their employees. Companies like Exelon were sued by those suffering from asbestos-caused cancer in order to collect damages.
By 2005, Exelon had spent millions of dollars defending asbestos claims and paying compensatory damages. The company stated that it would also assume liabilities from PECO and Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), energy delivery subsidiaries which Exelon had purchased. Exelon estimated another $43 million would be dispersed in damages for asbestos claims filed up to the year 2030.
Resources for Power Plant Workers
Tens of thousands of people have worked at Exelon's facilities, many of whom will be at risk of developing the rare cancer mesothelioma. This aggressive disease can strike those with only minimal exposure to the material, so anyone who may have encountered asbestos on the job should check regularly for lung-related problems. Because mesothelioma can take several decades to develop, it is essential to diligently monitor one's health. Call a Patient Advocate at (800) 615-2270 to learn more about being tested for mesothelioma.
Victims of mesothelioma who need to find a reputable specialist in their area can also consult an advocate for more information on the Doctor Match Program, which puts patients in touch with some of the nation's top mesothelioma experts. Call or complete the form on this page to receive additional details.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
