Slide 2:
Say the word “asbestos” and most people think you are mentioning something from the past – something that has no relevance to people today. But that perception is far from accurate. Shockingly, asbestos, a known carcinogen, is responsible for approximately 10,000 deaths a year in the United States alone. And due to powerful industry lobbying, the use of asbestos is still not banned in the United States. As one of the first law firms to ever successfully win an asbestos cancer lawsuit, Baron & Budd is proud of the work we have done to expose the companies responsible for knowingly exposing innocent people to asbestos. And we are proud that, over and over again, we have been able to seek and win financial compensation for our clients, the victims of this terrible tragedy. In addition to representing people in the courtroom we also consider it part of our duty to inform and educate the public about the dangers of asbestos. We hope that this brochure is helpful and encourage you to call or email us, day or night, with your questions. Thank you for your interest in this important environmental issue. Russell W. Budd
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Why is asbestos a problem today? During the last century asbestos was widely used in all types of construction. For example, it was frequently used in drywall compounds, paint texturing, ceiling texturing, gaskets, sheetrock and other routine construction materials. During the construction process many workers were exposed to asbestos as they worked to build homes and other buildings. The common practice of using asbestos in building materials continued through the 1970s. Since the latency period of asbestos-related cancer is so long, the problem today is twofold: one, people who worked in construction or in other contaminated environments decades ago are just now becoming sick; and two, the buildings originally constructed with materials that contained asbestos are now often being remodeled, which means that the dangerous material is once again being released into the air. or ingested. The asbestos fibers also can eventually trigger cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Is asbestos still being manufactured and used today? Over 50 countries today have banned the use of asbestos but due to powerful industry lobbying, the United States is not one of them. Products Over 50 countries today have banned the use of asbestos but due to powerful industry lobbying, the United States is not one of them. Wouldn’t I have known if I was exposed to asbestos on the job? Many people have been exposed to asbestos without their knowledge. For example, common construction materials such as sheetrock, “popcorn” ceiling materials, vinyl floor tiles, gaskets and other construction materials contained large amounts of asbestos and were manufactured and installed for decades without any warning labels or caution given to workers. Asbestos may not have even been listed as a product ingredient. Also, asbestos often breaks off and becomes airborne in such small pieces that it is invisible to the human eye. Yet even those invisible particle can be inhaled and cause asbestos cancers. containing asbestos are still allowed into the U.S. in the form of some construction materials and auto parts, to name a few. Why is asbestos exposure a health hazard? The health risks of asbestos occur when these tiny fibers are released into the air through normal handling of the material and are breathed Is there any safe level of exposure to asbestos? The overwhelming worldwide scientific consensus is that there is no safe level of exposure. Although overall risk rises with increased exposure, even 4 5