Asbestos lung cancer risk is documented in a recent lawsuit from a woman alleging several manufacturing companies had caused her father to develop lung cancer.

The woman is filing this asbestos wrongful death lawsuit against The Budd Co. and other companies, claiming their products caused her father to face an increased asbestos lung cancer risk. According to the asbestos lawsuit, her father had been employed by Centralia and had allegedly sustained regular asbestos exposure.

Due to this exposure, Plaintiff Rose S. says her father faced an increased asbestos lung cancer risk and ultimately developed the disease. The man eventually died from asbestos lung cancer, which spurred his daughter to file this asbestos wrongful death lawsuit on his behalf.

Rose S. filed this asbestos wrongful death lawsuit on Dec. 18, 2017, on behalf of her father William H. She names The Budd Co. and other companies as defendants in the claim. Rose alleges these companies failed to protect her father against asbestos exposure, when they knew their products contained the carcinogenic fibrous material.

Overview of Asbestos Lung Cancer Risk

Asbestos was popularly used before the 1980s for various construction and manufacturing purposes, due to its fire and chemical resistant qualities. Combined with its economic pricing, companies and homeowners alike opted to use asbestos for a variety of purposes including industrial applications and even for building homes.

The popularity of asbestos peaked in World War II, when a number of United States Navy ships’ insulation piping utilized asbestos. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) later declared asbestos as a carcinogen, which means it is linked to cancer in people.

While asbestos is considered harmless when dormant, the asbestos lung cancer risk presents itself when the fibers are released into the air. When inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs or stomach respectively. When asbestos fibers become lodged in the lungs, they may trigger the development of cancer cells.

Often, asbestos lung cancer is diagnosed at a late stage because of how long it takes the disease to develop. Symptoms often appear between 15 to 35 years after exposure. This often leaves patients with little treatment options and shortened life expectancy, which was reportedly the case with Rose’s father.

According to the asbestos wrongful death lawsuit, William had sustained daily asbestos exposure from the products manufactured, sold, distributed, and installed by the defendant companies. William was diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer on July 30, 2017, which was allegedly directly caused by occupational asbestos exposure.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure

Occupational asbestos exposure occurs in the work environment of the employee, with retired employees from industrial industry or military veterans being some of the most likely groups for asbestos lung cancer risk.

Companies are required by federal law to warn employees against potential asbestos exposure, and manufacturing companies must disclose whether or not their products contain asbestos.

Rose alleges the companies’ products made her father’s employment environment unsafe to work in. She is seeking damages of at least $50,000, with her asbestos wrongful death lawsuit claiming numerous counts of negligence and failure to warn. Rose alleges that at no point during her father’s employment was William warned against increased asbestos lung cancer risk.

This Asbestos Wrongful Death Lawsuit is Case No. 17-L-749, in St. Clair County Circuit Court.