Asbestos In Your Area

Asbestos in the State of Wisconsin

Asbestos Exposure in Wisconsin

There aren't any naturally occurring asbestos deposits in Wisconsin, except a couple along its border with Michigan, but they haven't been mined. The majority of the asbestos related medical cases in Wisconsin are from imported asbestos which was used in a wide variety of products. The highest at-risk industries in Wisconsin are paper mills, construction and power plants, plus, there are a few other companies that have been targeted as potential asbestos exposure hot spots.

Asbestos was, for a long time, very popular for use in a variety of products. It's a mineral that is formed in long thin fibers, which makes it easy to work with. It's fireproof, heat proof and flame retardant, doesn't conduct electricity and is very resistant to chemical burns. And it was cheap, being found in natural deposits all over the world. In the early 1900's, it was beginning to become apparent that asbestos might be hazardous to a person's health. By 1980 asbestos use, for the most part, had ceased in America.

At-Risk Occupations and Locations in Wisconsin

One of the industries that currently has a higher risk of asbestos exposure is the construction industry. Asbestos was used as insulation in many older buildings and was added to other products like floor tiles, ceiling tiles, wall board and some adhesives used in construction. When the demolition of an old building is scheduled, there are numerous inspections that have to be performed. If asbestos is found, abatement has to happen before the job can start. The same or similar rules apply to renovations in older buildings, too. The EPA has set up nationwide guidelines for asbestos inspections and abatements.

There are about nine different power plants listed as potential sources of asbestos. They are all over the state in towns like Portage, Green Bay, Pleasant Prairie, Genoa, Beloit, Alma and, of course, Milwaukee. Asbestos was typically used to insulate different machines used when power is being produced. Quite often asbestos fibers were introduced into the air as the machines ran. There have been studies done showing power plant workers have a high potential for developing asbestos related illnesses.

Wisconsin is the largest manufacturer of paper and paper products in the country. There are paper and pulp mills in Green Bay, Marinette, Kaukauna, Mosinee, Rapids and Stevens Point. Not only was asbestos used as insulation material, the sheets that are often used in the drying process were made of asbestos. Asbestos could also be found in some of the adhesives used on a regular basis.

It was also common for many manufacturing jobs that involved working around heat or flames to use clothing made with asbestos for protection. In many cases, the outer fabric of the suits would become worn and allow asbestos fiber to escape. Even race car drivers used to wear asbestos suits to protect them in case of an accident.

Asbestos-Related Deaths in Wisconsin

There were 725 asbestos related deaths between 1979 and 1999. There are two main diseases that arise from prolonged asbestos exposure, asbestosis and Mesothelioma. While asbestosis is a lot more common, it is treatable and a lot less deadly than mesothelioma. Of the 725 deaths in Wisconsin, 177 were from asbestosis. After prolonged exposure to airborne asbestos, the fibers enter and stay in the lungs. The lungs become more and more scarred as time passes. There comes a point where the scarring becomes so bad that it affects the victims breathing. Those with asbestosis are also more likely to contract lung cancer or mesothelioma. Asbestosis can be treated, but not cured and sufferers can have a normal lifespan. Mesothelioma, on the other hand, is very deadly. It accounted for 548 deaths in the same time period and the average lifespan after diagnosis is eighteen months. The fibers are a carcinogen that can create tumors in the lining that covers and protects most of the vital organs in the chest and stomach. Once the tumors form, they metastasize quickly and spread the cancer throughout the body.

Experts estimate that the number of asbestos related medical cases will continue to rise over the next few years. It takes a lot of time for asbestos damage to show up. It's also believed that the number of cases will peak in 2015 and then drop off pretty quickly, since the use of asbestos had dropped off so abruptly in the 1980's.

Legal Resources for Wisconsin Residents

There are still a large number of suits happening regarding asbestos and the exposure some workers may have been subjected to. Some court proceedings are also beginning to involve the secondary exposure of the families of folks who worked in asbestos laden environments. The courts are still leaning towards the plaintiff in many of these cases. They are also going after companies that don't follow the rules for handling asbestos. In one recent case, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court recently made the ruling that a company in Wisconsin was liable for mishandling asbestos.

The statute of limitations for filing this kind of suit is three years from the time of discovery, or, and this is important, from the time the disease should have been discovered. Many of these cases don't make it into the courtroom, they are pretty often settled out of court. Of course, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't take the time to find a good lawyer. These cases can be very complicated and a good attorney will help you make your way through the red tape.

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