New Orleans Asbestos Blog

After your years of employment at the Avondale shipyards or another industry where you faced exposure to asbestos, you may be like many who are suffering from mesothelioma, lung cancer or another asbestos-related illness. Researchers have widely accepted the link between asbestos and certain cancers, which is why it may seem strange to you that the U.S. has not banned asbestos altogether.

In fact, 30 years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned the sale of certain asbestos products and the use of asbestos in any new products. However, a new EPA rule may be as concerning to you as it is to many others, especially those who continue to suffer due to their exposure to asbestos products.

From the plains north of Baton Rouge to the Mississippi River Delta, the Bayou State holds outsized risks to the respiratory systems of its citizens. Louisiana's rates of lung cancer incidence are towards the top of U.S. state rankings. Many blame the chemical industry that once thrived on inland parts of the Mississippi River Valley and left a legacy of pollution still being managed.

Other sources of fumes that have been associated with increased chances of lung cancer include motor vehicle exhaust and smoking cigarettes. The rising popularity of vaporized nicotine oils has not come with a reduction in risks for cancer. This is one of the reasons for a new push to raise the legal smoking age in Louisiana to 21 years.

Asbestos has probably been a serious health hazard for centuries, but scientists first drew attention to its risks in the last 100 years. The fibers of the crystalline material may cause cancer and other problems in the lungs and the lining of several major organs. Although it is no longer used in building and manufacturing, it is still discovered in older sites.

Residents of New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward are concerned that the site of a former elementary school is marked with an asbestos warning. The building was sold at auction in 2017 and later torn down. The street corner was recently wrapped with tape saying, "dangerous asbestos hazard." Crews in protective personal equipment were also seen clearing up the property.

When compared to the prevalence of its use just a few decades ago, the use of asbestos has dropped dramatically. However, most people here in Louisiana and elsewhere are under the impression that it is not used at all, and exposure only arises in the demolition, remodel or destruction of older buildings.

Sadly, that is not the case. Workers in some industries continue to risk exposure while at work, and so do their families by extension. For instance, if you work in a commercial auto shop, you remain at risk.