A couple has filed a lawsuit against several manufacturers alleging that the husband’s asbestos cancer was caused from exposure to their products.

Plaintiffs John H. and Sandra H. filed an asbestos cancer lawsuit against Aurora Pump Co., Flowserve US Inc. and Zurn Industries LLC alleging negligence relating to asbestos cancer.

Asbestos is a natural occurring silicate mineral which forms in fibrous crystals in the earth. After the mineral is mined, it can be pulled into fluffy fibers which can be easily combined with other materials.

Asbestos is naturally resistant to heat, electricity, and chemical corrosion which made it a valuable material and additive in past construction and industrial work. In the past, asbestos was used in insulation, textiles, and as an additive for construction materials.

Despite asbestos being a useful material, it is extremely toxic and is classified as a known carcinogen. When asbestos materials are moved, small asbestos fibers are released into the air where they can be swallowed and inhaled.

The dispersed fibers can also become stuck to clothing and be brought home which causes secondhand asbestos exposure. According to the National Cancer Institute, asbestos fibers are difficult for the body to expel and can accumulate in the lungs. This can cause scarring and inflammation, which increases the risks of respiratory conditions including lung cancer.

Occupations at risk for asbestos cancer include military citizens, shipyard workers, auto mechanics, construction workers, textile workers, plumbers and more. Asbestos was widely used in these occupations and may still be encountered today when working with older materials or buildings.

Between 1963 and 2009, Jon worked with products manufactured by the defendants. He argues that he was wrongfully exposed to asbestos fibers during his work with the materials which led to his lung cancer diagnosis in 2016. His lawsuit accuses the manufacturers of using asbestos in their materials despite its known toxicity.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with close to 200,000 Americans diagnosed annually. Asbestos is classified as a known carcinogen by many international agencies and poses a serious risk for lung cancer should fibers be inhaled.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,800 deaths annually are attributed to asbestos cancer in the lungs.

In the asbestos cancer lawsuit, John and Sandra argue that the manufacturers are responsible for John’s cancer because they allegedly knew that asbestos had toxic properties and failed to provide warnings regarding the dangers of working with such materials.

John states that he was not properly warned about the risks of working with asbestos and he was not provided protection or instructions for safely dealing with those materials.

Lung cancer is rarely caused by one sole factor and is instead the product of many factors. For example, nearly all asbestos lung cancer diagnoses are also associated with tobacco smoke. Because it is difficult to pinpoint the cause of lung cancer, many corporations use this as an opportunity to claim asbestos exposure was not the cause when faced with lawsuits.

John and Sandra accuse the manufacturers of negligence. They seek damages of more than $50,000.

The Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 18-L-0105 in the St. Clair County Court.