New Orleans Asbestos Blog

Dozens of companies made the decision to use asbestos in their operations during the first half of the 20th century. Although scientific documents from the 1930s show the possible risk that asbestos poses to the human respiratory system, it was prized as an insulator and fire retardant late into the 20th century.

The story did not end with the reduction of asbestos in industrial projects. Many firms and individuals, as well as other companies that acquired liabilities along with assets in mergers and buyouts, still hold liability for the removal or abatement of asbestos in industrial parts, home construction and shipbuilding. Therefore, lawsuits regarding asbestos exposure are expected to continue for years.

Americans are often fascinated with courtroom dramas. An intimate look at the legal system dealing with an important issue is reassuring for people who want to have faith in our democracy and our right to be heard. Although lawsuits often do provide reassurances and compensation to victims of grave injuries or illnesses, the truth is often messier than fiction.

The last year has seen a flurry of lawsuits against a major manufacturer and provider of talcum powder products to consumer markets. It began when a jury found the company liable for the health effects of talcum powder laced with asbestos, which has been shown connected to the risk of various types of cancers.

When scientists determined that asbestos is hazardous to people's health, it began a revolution in the practices of product safety. Millions of dollars worth of materials were recalled from distributors, thousands of buildings had installed asbestos removed or contained and many people turned to the civil court system to seek the financial damages they needed to recover.

Claims for damages due to mesothelioma, a cancer that appears to be caused solely by exposure to asbestos, had waned over the last couple of decades because fewer living people had been inhaled particles of the fibrous insulator. Louisiana was the venue for countless cases, and the state also saw an increase in cases due to a possible new source of contamination.

The Mississippi River Valley's end in Louisiana has been the heart of the economy in the Deep South for centuries. Although the water has brought a lot of commerce and transportation options, factories and refineries on parts of the river now nicknamed "Chemical Alley" dropped staggering quantities of noxious and dangerous substances into the environment of ordinary Louisianans.

The Bayou State has higher rates of lung cancer and other serious illnesses than much of the rest of the country. Some activists and scientists attribute this to the particulates of foreign chemicals in the air and water. Many are concerned about the future of a project in the heart of New Orleans which could reintroduce even more.