Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest, most painful cancers that a person can have. Mesothelioma is almost always due to asbestos exposure. It usually affects the lung linings, which is called the pleura. Thus, this form of the disease is called pleural mesothelioma. This deadly organ lining cancer also may affect the delicate membranes surrounding other major organs, such as the stomach, intestines, and heart. But 80% of mesothelioma cases are of the pleural variety.
It is estimated there are 3,000 new mesothelioma cases per year in the United States. While it is an extremely rare cancer, it is aggressive, painful and nearly always terminal when diagnosed in the late stages. Unfortunately, mesothelioma can be mistaken for less severe conditions and the patient may not realize something is seriously wrong until he can barely breathe. Mesothelioma is a frustrating cancer because it could be mostly prevented by eliminating asbestos exposure from society.
Maine and Mesothelioma Exposure
Many workers in Maine were exposed to asbestos-containing materials in over the decades. It is estimated by the CDC that 381 people from Maine died from mesothelioma from 1999 to 2015. Also, Maine has the dubious distinction of having the highest mesothelioma mortality rate in the US, with almost 17 people per one million dying from the disease. Another problem with Maine is it has 22 known sites where asbestos occurs naturally. These sites are mostly located in Franklin and Somerset counties. Further, from 2000 until 2009, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo and Washington counties in Main were among the top counties in the US with the highest rates of death from mesothelioma. (Bangordailynews.com)
If you worked in various heavy industries in Maine and eventually were diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may want to consult with an experienced mesothelioma attorney today. You only have a few years from the date of your diagnosis to file a claim, so be sure to act quickly.
At the end of this article are three mesothelioma claim law firms that can work with you on your legal options.
What Causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. When the deadly material is disturbed, processed,worked with or mined, tiny, invisible shards shoot into the air where they may be inhaled or ingested. These shards stick in the organ linings, especially the lungs. The lungs will work to expel them and may succeed to some extent. But some asbestos particles stay in the lungs for decades. In a few people, this can cause genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma. You may not develop mesothelioma for 50 years after exposure. (Cancer.org)
Maine Sites of Asbestos Exposure
Many Maine workers faced serious risks of asbestos exposure on the job. This put them at serious risk of serious cancers. Did you work in one of these industries and develop mesothelioma? Talk to a mesothelioma attorney today.
Shipbuilding
Given its location on the Atlantic, much shipbuilding has occurred in Maine over the centuries. But shipyards have a terrible reputation for containing asbestos. The cheap, fire retardant but deadly material was used in most aspects of ships – from insulation to boilers. This risky practice put Navy veterans and shipyard workers at higher risk of asbestos exposure. Some of the largest shipyards in the state were New England Shipbuilding Corporation in South Portland and the South Dry Dock and Repair Company in South Portland.
Power Plants
Power plants built in Main before 1980 all contain asbestos. The equipment in the power plants was usually created with various types of asbestos-containing materials to protect machinery from heat damage and to reduce the risk of fire. Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant is one of the most well known to contain asbestos.
Paper Mills
Paper manufacturing is still a vital industry in the US. It supplies thousands of jobs across the US. Paper mills in Maine have contained much equipment and materials that contain large amounts of asbestos, such as sandpaper backing and drying machines. Some of the paper mills that exposed workers to asbestos in Maine are Oxford Paper Company in Portland and Georgia Pacific Paper Mill in Woodland.
Military
Veterans comprise about 30% of all diagnoses for mesothelioma in the US, due to the heavy use of deadly asbestos in most branches of military service. Asbestos was always used decades ago in military buildings on base, such as Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, as well as in most Navy vessels and other equipment military veterans used.
Iron Foundries
Metal workers always face high heat levels in their work, so they would rely on asbestos materials to protect themselves from heat and fire. Protective clothing, such as asbestos clothing, including gloves and jackets, would be used as the worked with metal sheets, or they might work directly with asbestos as they sprayed it on metal products. One of the iron foundries in Maine known for asbestos problems is Sanford Sheet Plant.
Maine Asbestos Exposure Laws
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection supervises all projects regarding asbestos abatement in the state. The law states that asbestos removal only can be done by asbestos abatement professions that are licensed and certified. If a space containing more than three feet of asbestos is to be abated, proper notification must be mailed 10 days before the work is to begin. Also, transportation of any materials containing asbestos is regulated by the DEP
Maine Mesothelioma Attorneys
The death rate from asbestos is among the highest in the country in Maine. If you have been diagnosed with the cancer, talk to one of the experienced Maine mesothelioma attorneys below.
Sokolove Law LLC
1330 Boylston Street #400
Chestnut Hill MA 02467
(855) 237-0828
www.sokolovelaw.com
See All Massachusetts Mesothelioma Lawyer Lawsuit Help
Sokolove Law LLC notes on its website that there is a strong link between working in Maine in heavy industry and developing mesothelioma. This highly experienced mesothelioma laws firm can help you to determine which many companies could have exposed you to asbestos-containing materials and take appropriate legal action.
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen
360 Lexington Ave. 20th Floor
New York NY 10017
(212) 986-2233
www.elslaw.com
See All New York Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyer Lawsuit Help
This mesothelioma laws firm has a team of experienced lawyers with knowledge and practical involvement in many Maine asbestos and mesothelioma cases. The law firm has represented more than 50 clients in Maine cities and towns. They have a strong record successfully handling mesothelioma lawsuits and settlements.
Simmons, Hanly and Conroy
One Court Street
Alton IL 62002
(800) 326-8900
www.simmonsfirm.com
This mesothelioma and asbestos claim law firm work primarily from Illinois, but it has successfully worked many Maine mesothelioma cases. The firm has obtained more than $5 billion personal injury lawsuit compensation over three decades, and 10s of millions in compensation for asbestos and mesothelioma cases. Please contact the law firm of Simmons, Hanly and Conroy for a free consultation today about your mesothelioma claim.
See All Illinois Mesothelioma Asbestos Lawyer Lawsuit Help
Get Mesothelioma Legal Help Immediately
With over $30 billion available for victims through the Asbestos Trust Funds, you could be entitled to financial compensations without ever filing a lawsuit. Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer victims qualify immediately. Complete the form or call us toll-free (800) 352-0871
References
- Best Mesothelioma Lawyers. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mesolawsuitafterdeath.com/legal/best-mesothelioma-law-firms-navy-veterans/
