Mesothelioma – Firefighters Are At A Higher Risk
According to 2010 National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) research on cancer incidence among firemen in San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia, firefighters had two times greater of a risk of acquiring mesothelioma than the general public.
How Are Firefighters Exposed to Asbestos?
Since asbestos has fire-resistant qualities, it was frequently utilized and worn by firefighters. Asbestos was woven into a variety of items, including coats, hoods, fire suits, jackets, liners, boots, and gloves. Firefighters frequently wore or utilized these fire-resistant items to protect themselves when dealing with fires and other high-risk environmental situations. Unfortunately, asbestos particles and dust become airborne and prone to inhalation when the gear rubs against the firefighter’s skin.
Throughout the twentieth century, asbestos materials were widely used in both commercial and residential constructions, making firemen susceptible while operating in older homes. When older buildings are destroyed by fire, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. Those fibers can fly a long distance and stay in the air for a long time. The easily inhaled fibers are sharp and become stuck in the lungs, esophagus, stomach, and heart, where they remain for the rest of one’s life. These sharp fibers get more entrenched in these organs and surrounding soft tissue over time, producing fibrosis and the formation of tumors.
On 9/11, Firefighters at Ground Zero were Exposed to Asbestos
When the Twin Towers collapsed, over 1,000 tons of asbestos were thrown into the air, coating the lowest floors. Those who did not wear respirators breathed hazardous dust. Firefighters and first responders from that tragic day have developed and continue to develop pulmonary problems, even coining the term “World Trade Center Cough” for those afflicted.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, your financial resources will almost certainly not be adequate to pay all of your medical, rehabilitative, and living expenses.
At GPW, we have represented many people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis. Our mesothelioma lawyers have a clear knowledge of what it takes to win and get you the compensation you deserve since we have been involved in asbestos lawsuits since the beginning. Contact us today.
Sources:
Findings from a Study of Cancer among U.S. Fire Fighters, July 2016, [Link]
Evans, Craig, The Risks Posed by Asbestos to firefighters remains., June 13, 2018 , [Link]
Povtak, Tim, Firefighters Can Prevent Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Cancer, 2012, [Link]
