ASBESTOS IN THE WIND
California wildfires spur concerns over asbestos exposure and mesothelioma

Many homes and buildings now being demolished by Southern California wildfires contain toxic asbestos, and health authorities are concerned that hot air currents will carry dislodged asbestos fibers into the air and throughout local communities.

California already has the highest mortality rate for asbestos-mesothelioma than any state in the nation. For the past 30 years, the mesothelioma death rate has been particularly high in the area around asbestos-plagued Los Angeles, California, where wildfires are still only 60 percent contained.

California wildfires release asbestos

September 8, 2009 -- Recent wildfires scorching Southern California have prompted health concerns among residents about asbestos, a highly toxic building material commonly used in homes constructed before 1980.

Wildfires have destroyed more than 140,000 acres of the Los Angeles forest, 64,000 homes, and have forced thousands of residents to evacuate. Health authorities are now warning residents about airborne asbestos fibers released from demolished home structures.

Before certain building regulations took effect in 1980, asbestos was lavishly applied in asbestos home insulation, ceiling tiles, drywall and asbestos floor tiles because of its fire-resistant properties.

Now, fast-moving wildfires sweeping across Southern California are destroying these homes and dislodging fibers from asbestos insulation materials into the air, where they can be inhaled and lead to a severe form of asbestos-related cancer known as malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma symptoms can take 20 to 40 years to develop before a diagnosis can be made; but the disease is always fatal. Other diseases linked to asbestos exposure include asbestosis and lung cancer.

California wildfires and asbestos

The American Lung Association of California (ALAC) has offered several health tips on avoiding asbestos exposure during the current run of California wildfires.

The ALAC urges residents to limit their outdoor activity and remain indoors. Avoid the inhalation of smoke, ash and other hazardous materials in the air, and especially around destroyed home property. Dust masks do not protect against asbestos, the ALAC warns.

When driving, make sure to keep the car’s windows and air vents closed.

Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C.

Weitz & Luxenberg has protected the legal rights of workers since 1986. And in that time the firm's mesothelioma lawyers have won several billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients injured by job-related asbestos exposure.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and seek a free case review, please notify us through the communication form at left.

We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. Because the firm works on a contingency basis, there is no cost to you until we win a settlement or a verdict.