Brayton Purcell LLP

Call For A Free Consultation
800-598-0314

Call For A Free Consultation 800-598-0314

Brayton Purcell LLP
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
    • Our Beliefs
      • Giving Back
      • Our Associations And Memberships
      • The Right To Trial By Jury
    • Regions Served
    • Careers
    • Our Employees Pets
    • Press Releases
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Mesothelioma/Asbestos
    • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
    • Toxic Substances
    • Estate Planning
    • Other Areas Of Practice
  • Court Successes
    • Trial Verdicts
    • Appeals
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
    • Our Beliefs
      • Giving Back
      • Our Associations And Memberships
      • The Right To Trial By Jury
    • Regions Served
    • Careers
    • Our Employees Pets
    • Press Releases
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Mesothelioma/Asbestos
    • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
    • Toxic Substances
    • Estate Planning
    • Other Areas Of Practice
  • Court Successes
    • Trial Verdicts
    • Appeals
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact

New Study Reveals Staggering Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure

by Brayton Purcell LLP | Jan 9, 2018 | Asbestos

quarry with heavy equipment

Nearly 90 percent of Libby, Montana, asbestos miners have lamellar pleura thickening

Previously home to one of the largest vermiculite mines in the U.S., Libby, Montana, residents have suffered significantly from mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Now, a new study points to issues with pulmonary functioning (respiratory disease) of Libby miners who were exposed to asbestos.

In fact, 87 percent of Libby miners had lamellar pleural thickening, which can lead to long-term respiratory issues. Lamellar pleural thickening is a lung disease caused by scarring of the pleura, the lining of the lungs. It can lead to chest pain and difficulty breathing. In addition to an increased likelihood of developing mesothelioma, LPT can lead to heart failure, including heart attack and stroke.

Study Used CT Scans to Increase Detection

According to the authors of the study, CT scans of hundreds of former miners revealed the easily-missed scarring. Previous studies had used chest radiographs to detect pleura thickening. CT scans are a more accurate and sensitive measurement that the authors believe revealed a different and serious type of pleura thickening.

While not everyone exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma, the deadly cancer of the pleura, it is clear that the health effects of asbestos exposure are widespread and devastating. Even without a mesothelioma diagnosis (which is itself easily misdiagnosed) asbestos causes significant ill health effects through pleura thickening and other ailments.

The authors noted that the consequences of asbestos exposure and pleura thickening are “of national significance” since the vermiculite asbestos mined in Libby was shipped in open rail cars throughout the U.S. Workers in processing sites are also susceptible to pleura thickening, and anyone involved in the mining, shipping or manufacturing of vermiculite contaminated with asbestos is at increased risk.

The study will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

 

Recent Posts

  • Boiler Room Workers and Asbestos Exposure
  • Mitigating the financial impact of mesothelioma treatments
  • The EPA’s difficulty with data disclosure
  • Judge orders EPA to close loopholes on asbestos-related reporting
  • Department of Veterans Affairs Increases Pension Rate for 2021

Archives

Categories

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

Free Consultation

Take The First Step In Resolving Your Issue. Send Us An Email.

Email Us For A Response

San Francisco
Bay Area Office

222 Rush Landing Road Novato, CA 94945

Novato Office
222 Rush Landing Road
Novato, CA 94945
Toll Free: 800-598-0314
Phone: 415-898-1555
Fax: 415-898-1247

Map & Directions

Southern California
Office

12 28th Street Venice, California 90291

Los Angeles Office
12 28th Street
Venice, California 90291
Toll Free: 800-598-0314
Phone: 415-898-1555
Fax: 415-898-1247

Map & Directions
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

© 2021 Brayton Purcell LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw, part of Thomson Reuters

Review Us