ASBESTOS IN THE NEWS
Asbestos consumption in India rises 12 percent

December 5, 2008 – Consumption of asbestos in India is rising by an alarming 12 percent and contributing to a spike in worker deaths from mesothelioma and other diseases linked to the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

There is no reliable data on diseases linked to asbestos among Indian workers. But asbestos-related lung cancer, such as malignant mesothelioma, has claimed the lives of more people in the country than any other work-related disease.

The current death rates have prompted former minister and environmental activist Maneka Gandhi to assert that India requires a full-fledged campaign against asbestos.

“Our entire policy on asbestos needs to be changed. We must stop being the junkyard of the world,” Gandhi said.

Asbestos – an international concern

Despite India’s call for changes, the country (along with Canada and Russia) surprised many environmentalists at the recent Rotterdam Convention. Due to their vetoes, nations that are importing asbestos will not be afforded any information on the health dangers of working with asbestos materials.

Countries that ruled in favor of the bill and have banned the use of asbestos in construction projects include: Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the European Union.

Time to seek justice!

Despite the serious health problems linked to asbestos exposure, asbestos is still imported and used in the United States. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. imported and used an estimated 1,820 tons of asbestos in 2007.

Government sources estimate that in the next decade more than 35,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with the deadliest form of asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma. This disease is most often the result of industrial workplace exposure to asbestos – and usually contracted through employers’ blatant disregard for the health and safety of their workers.

That’s why people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their family members have strong cases in court. Weitz & Luxenberg has protected the legal rights of workers for 25 years – longer than most law firms in the nation. And in that time its attorneys have won several billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for its clients.

If you have a mesothelioma injury, please complete the form on this page for a free evaluation of your legal rights. There is no cost to you until we win a settlement or a verdict.