Asbestos in Massachusetts
ranking in U.S. for mesothelioma & asbestosis deaths
The traditions of Massachusetts run deep, thanks in large part to the role many residents' ancestors played in the American Revolution and the formation of the United States. One of those traditions, building ships for military and commercial use, has brought on illness and death to shipyard workers because of several decades of asbestos exposure. Retired shipyard workers face respiratory disease because of their years of exposure, but asbestos contamination runs through many other industries in Massachusetts. Workers from across the state in other fields, such as manufacturing and construction, have also undergone asbestos exposure in their careers. Attorneys work to seek damages for their clients from employers that allowed workers to be exposed to the dangerous substance. Doctors and medical researchers explore new methods of diagnosing and treating the rare lung cancers that arise from asbestos exposure.
Treatment Centers in this State
Mesothelioma and Asbestosis Deaths, 1999-2008
- 769mesothelioma deaths in Massachusetts
- 148asbestosis deaths in Massachusetts
- 917total mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths
Occupations at Risk
The Boston Naval Shipyard operated from 1801 until 1974 and served as one of the country's most vital shipbuilding facilities. From 1941 to 1945, the shipyard employed nearly 50,000 workers to build U.S. Navy ships to serve in World War II. According to a Navy report, as many as 300 components on each ship contained asbestos. The mineral was a primary ingredient in insulation panels, epoxies and gaskets. The Navy banned the use of asbestos in its ships in 1973 and closed the Boston Naval Shipyard a year later. Later that decade, some of the first studies tying asbestos exposure to lung disease entered the public discourse. Workers who had been exposed to asbestos developed respiratory disorders decades later.
UMass Asbestos Awareness
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst published a flyer to educate students, faculty and staff on the dangers of asbestos. The flyer illustrated how asbestos can be found in common building materials, including duct insulation, floor tiles and fireproof panels. The flyer also outlined proper safety procedures and directives from the schools Environmental Health and Safety Department. According to the school, the goal of the procedures is to "protect personnel and students from exposure and comply with all state and federal regulations that pertain to asbestos in the work place."
Jobsites with Asbestos Exposure
Harvard Medical School Asbestos Study
A 1996 study from the Harvard Medical School examined 83 patients with pleural mesothelioma, a rare from of cancer attributed to asbestos exposure. The study determined that patients receiving a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and supportive care survived longer than those receiving only one treatment method.
Fast fact: The Massachusetts Clean Air Act closely resembles the federal law of the same name, which also includes provisions for the handling, disposal and transport of asbestos-containing materials.
Massachusetts and Superfund Site
Massachusetts officials have asked for $1 million in private funding to help restore 22 acres of land and water at the Blackburn & Union Privileges Superfund Site. The land is polluted by asbestos, lead, arsenic and other hazardous substances. The site in Walpole, Massachusetts, was once used by chemical maker and asbestos firm W.R. Grace. The proposed settlement came after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to about $13 million in cleanup funds for the site. W.R. Grace agreed to the proposed settlement and will contribute to the projects once it emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Any settlement is subject to a public and court approval. From 1915 to 1936, a predecessor of W.R. Grace manufactured clutch linings and asbestos brake linings on the site. A predecessor of another party involved in the settlement, Tyco Healthcare Group, ran a textile factory from 1946 to about 1983 that used caustic solutions at the site.
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02/10/2012 -
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02/10/2012 -
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02/09/2012 -
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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.
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