Illinois Worker Awarded $90 Million in Asbestos Lawsuit
The environmental and building science consultants from EC2 provide air and bulk asbestos sampling to protect people from asbestos exposure.
Woodstock, IL, April 18th, 2011 -- Last month it was announced that a 59 year old man was awarded $90 million by a jury in Bloomington, Illinois. The plaintiff suffers from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The man claimed that his exposure occurred while working as a pipe fitter during the 1970s at a number of different worksites.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was added to countless building materials in the past. Asbestos was used extensively to increase strength, corrosion resistance, acoustical dampening, provide thermal insulation and fire resistance to materials.
The risk of developing lung cancer from asbestos exposure increases with the amount & type of fibers inhaled. Smokers also have an increased risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers as compared to nonsmokers. Diseases caused by asbestos may not appear until 20 to 30 years after the asbestos exposure occurred.
Asbestos found in building materials is today heavily regulated. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA), “When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems.”
“The heavy use of asbestos before its ban can still be felt decades later,” reported Ed Chambers, the President of EC2, Inc, a Midwest environmental consulting firm. “Since a number of asbestos related diseases occur decades after exposure, cases like the one in Bloomington happen all the time. Also many asbestos containing materials can still be found in buildings across the greater Chicago area and across Illinois. Testing suspect materials and the air is the logical way to go about determining if asbestos still remains and is a potential threat to people. At EC2 we have decades of experience investigating and resolving cases involving asbestos.”
EC2 has helped cosponsor a video on asbestos dangers in the home that can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCpQYuK8ge8
To learn more about asbestos, environmental, mold or indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, please visit http://www.4ec2inc.com/, email info@4ec2inc.com or call (815) 703-9000.
About EC2, Inc.
EC2 is a leading provider of environmental consulting and inspection services for clients across the United States. Based in the Chicago area, the company provides their services to clients ranging from local companies and institutions to international Fortune 500 corporations.
Customer comments
No comments were found for Illinois Worker Awarded $90 Million in Asbestos Lawsuit. Be the first to comment!