Mesothelioma Lawyers Arkansas
Arkansas had 273 asbestos-related deaths from 1979 through 2001 alone. Pulaski County tops the list of counties with 25 mesothelioma deaths and 19 deaths from asbestosis. Several industries prominent in Arkansas have historically put workers at risk of asbestos exposure, including paper mills, power plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, aluminum plants, and other manufacturing facilities. Each of these industries runs machinery and creates materials at very high levels of heat. Previous to the 1980s, asbestos was widely used in industrial plants because of its heat and fire-resistant properties and its heightened resistance to chemical degradation.
Exposure to asbestos needlessly put workers at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. Because asbestos takes years or even decades to affect the body and patients do not typically demonstrate symptoms of an asbestos-related illness for at least ten years, it is likely that a high number of deaths attributed to asbestos will continue to occur in Arkansas.
We strongly urge anyone diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease or an heir, if that person has passed away, to contact a mesothelioma attorney to determine if a mesothelioma lawsuit is appropriate. If you or someone close to you has mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure in Arkansas, attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason can help. Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason are mesothelioma lawyers with over 30 years of experience. We can explain your legal rights and help you understand what to expect from a mesothelioma lawsuit. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in settlement compensation for mesothelioma patients and their families. We provide a free case evaluation, and there is no up front cost for our services.
Asbestos Exposure in Arkansas
Arkansas is home to many heavy industries, including paper mills, power plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, aluminum plants, and other manufacturing facilities. All are known high-risk industries for asbestos exposure and asbestos-related diseases. The state has many older buildings as well. Most public buildings constructed prior to 1980 incorporated asbestos-containing materials to help prevent fires. Before its dangers were widely known, asbestos was commonly used in shingles, flooring, pipefittings and even HVAC systems.
Asbestos was used in paper mills to insulate and protect machinery during the paper making process. A pleural (body cavity that surrounds the lungs) cancer study found that the majority of fatal asbestos exposures in paper mills occurred in maintenance workers who were responsible for the upkeep of the intricate paper making machinery. Maintenance workers were particularly at risk of inhaling loose asbestos fibers from the insulation and heating element holders when they opened up the machinery to check that the passageways were clear and the heating elements were working properly.
Asbestos exposure was virtually unavoidable in power plants built prior to 1980. Due to its insulating and fire-retardant qualities, power plants used asbestos to protect equipment exposed to high temperatures, such as boilers, generators and turbines. Pumps and valves were often sealed with asbestos containing gaskets, and pipes were insulated with asbestos. Power plants tended to have fireproof roof structures and floors, and asbestos was the material of choice. When floors and ceilings were repaired, asbestos dust was distributed throughout the powerhouse, putting everyone at risk for asbestos inhalation.
Oil refinery workers were also at high risk of asbestos exposure. Prior to the late 1970s, asbestos was used widely to insulate many pieces of equipment that operated at hot temperatures inside oil refineries. This equipment included furnaces, tanks, boilers, ovens, heat exchangers and pumps. Those workers who repaired and maintained the asbestos insulation used in this equipment were especially prone to asbestos fiber inhalation.
Workers in all of these industries sometimes wore protective gear, including gloves and facemasks, made from asbestos fibers to protective them from heat-creating elements. This clothing may have put them into direct contact with dangerous asbestos fibers. When asbestos is inhaled or ingested, the thin fibers that make up this mineral can cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.
Our Attorneys Can Help Victims of Mesothelioma in Arkansas
If you or members of your family have been affected by asbestos cancer in Arkansas or any state in the U.S., contact Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason. Our mesothelioma attorneys are experts in mesothelioma lawsuits. We have over thirty years of success providing mesothelioma legal representation to clients across the United States. We will provide a free case evaluation and can fly to Arkansas to meet with you in person. There is no up front cost to you for our services.
If you are in need of mesothelioma medical information or treatment, visit our list of mesothelioma treatment centers. Mesothelioma attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason are here to help.
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