The medical and scientific community has been warning of the dangers of asbestos for a very long time, leaving asbestos manufacturers and other companies with little room to claim ignorance of the hazards. At Savinis, D'Amico, & Kane, L.L.C., our Pittsburgh attorneys represent individuals who have contracted mesothelioma or other diseases from exposure to this substance.
Asbestos Industry Cover-Up And History
Here is a very basic timeline showing what the asbestos industry knew:
- 61-114 A.D. — Pliny the Younger wrote that slaves who worked with the mineral asbestos became ill.
- 1899 — Asbestos is reported as a hazardous and toxic dust.
- 1930 — Asbestosis is named as a serious disease in several prominent and widely distributed medical journals and reports.
- 1940 — It is known that asbestos is the type of toxic substance that requires changing clothes when leaving an area of exposure.
- 1955 — The causal relationship between asbestos exposure and lung cancer is reported.
- 1965 — The risk of mesothelioma is associated with exposure to chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite asbestos. Also, the risk of mesothelioma from "take home" or secondary exposure is recognized.
- 1966 — The U.S. government sponsors a two-day seminar outlining the need for increased protection for individuals exposed to asbestos. The seminar proceedings stated: "It has been known since the early 1900s that excessive exposure to asbestos gives rise to the disabling pulmonary disease 'asbestosis.' More recently, evidence has been developed that the incidence of respiratory tract and other malignancies in asbestos workers is excessive."
- 1976 — The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revise its standards and states that only a ban on asbestos can assure full protection against its carcinogenic effects.
- 1994 — OSHA sets a new permissible exposure level for asbestos at 0.1 fibers/cc.
Even If They Didn't Know, They Could Still Be Held Liable
Depending on the circumstances, an asbestos manufacturer or distributor could be sued under the theory of either negligence or strict liability. Under strict liability, it is irrelevant whether the company knew of the potential dangers. As long as it produced a defective product that caused harm, it can be held liable for damages.
Contact Savinis, D'Amico & Kane ∙ Free Initial Consultation
Call 412-567-4931, toll free at 866-473-7545 or complete our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with our law firm. Our Pennsylvania asbestosis and lung cancer lawyers accept all cases on a contingency fee basis.