According to a new study from a team of French scientist at the University of Bordeaux, those who are exposed to an insulation material called refractory ceramic fiber (RCF) as well as asbestos, are more than four times as likely to develop pleural mesothelioma as those who were exposed to asbestos alone.

It has been known for years that exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing mesothelioma, but RCF is also used for insulation, although studies found no increase in lung cancer or mesothelioma in those exposed to RCF alone.

However, in this latest study, the researchers wanted to discover if workers were exposed to both asbestos and RCF, did the incidence of mesothelioma increase. They reported in the European Respiratory Journal that the risk of developing the disease was significantly higher for those who had been exposed to both substances.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and usually lethal cancer of the membranes surrounding internal organs and was used from the 1930s to around the 1980s. RCFs were launched on the European market in the 1960s. Although asbestos is now banned or restricted in most developed countries, workers may still encounter asbestos containing materials and refractory ceramic fibers together during demolition or remodeling projects.

If you or someone you know is suffering from an asbestos related disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

Mesothelioma Explanation

According to Dr. Sanjay Popat, consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden hospital in London, most of the cases of mesothelioma which he sees, are those of the cancer of the lining of the lung cavity, although it can also present in the abdomen.

Mesothelioma is primarily due to exposure to asbestos and has a very long time lag, anything from 15 to 60 years with the average being around 45 years. Patients will have no idea they have this silently growing cancer until they begin to feel short of breath, and unable to carry out daily tasks without breathlessness. They may also experience weight loss.

Diagnosis begins with listening to the chest to see if there is any fluid present, which is then followed by a chest x-ray.

Treatment is usually by chemotherapy, to shrink the cancer and keep it under control by improving quality of life, or alternatively using radiotherapy when a particular area can be targeted.

Given the time lag of the disease, more cases are expected to emerge over the next few years.

If you or someone you know is suffering from an asbestos related disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

The survivors of prolific actor Ed Lauter have named several prominent corporations as being at least partially responsible, after Lauter died of asbestos-caused mesothelioma recently. His survivors claim that he was exposed to the substance during his decades’ work with various corporations including:

• CBS Corporation
• Ford Motor Company
• General Electric Company
• Georgia-Pacific LLC
• Honeywell International, Inc.
• Ingersoll-Rand PLC
• John Crane, Inc.
• Union Carbide Corporation

These companies represent just some of the over one dozen businesses that Lauter’s survivors claim exposed him to the asbestos which ultimately led to the disease which to took life. Such asbestos related cases, where a prominent figure’s estate names multiple high profile companies as defendants, is highly unusual. This case has the potential to set various precedents, including bringing Hollywood studios into the conversation as it relates to having exposed actors and employees to deadly levels of asbestos.

If you or someone you know has suffered the results of asbestos related disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP  at  (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.

The death of prolific character actor and stand-up comedian Ed Lauter, which was caused by mesothelioma, has opened the eyes of the world to the toxicity of asbestos.  Lauter’s widow is now suing TV studios in which he worked, claiming that he had been exposed to asbestos when working on set.

The revelation that Lauter died from mesothelioma, which can only be caused by exposure to asbestos, has opened up an interesting line of inquiry in the ongoing process of sorting out asbestos related claims.  Considering the fact that Lauter was undoubtedly on set with dozens of other actors, the question naturally arises if other actors may have been similarly exposed.

It will be interesting to see, in the coming months and years, if the families of actors who were colleagues of Lauter’s, or who acted in the same era on the same sets as he did, also come forward and claim that their loved ones had been affected by asbestos.  For now, Lauter is the highest profile actor to have contracted mesothelioma as a result of his having worked at films studios.  But, given the toxicity of asbestos, it would not be surprising if others were also similarly affected.

The extent of asbestos use in the U.S. is mind boggling. Now, even TV and movie studios are being implicated. If you or anyone you know has developed mesothelioma, call the attorneys of Brayton Purcell, LLP, now at (800) 598-0314 or contact us online for a free consultation regarding getting you the compensation you deserve.