Former Atlantic Foundry employees in Akron, Ohio may have been exposed to asbestos materials at the workplace, and developed related illnesses many years later. Asbestos was commonly used in a range of building insulation, equipment and materials used in the steel industry up until the closure of the Akron Atlantic Foundry.
Foundry and steel mill workers are considered at high risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma lung cancer, asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis, adenocarcinoma and other cancers. When handled, or when the materials break down over time, asbestos can separate into tiny particles that are easily ingested or inhaled.
Although the use of asbestos products has dramatically decreased in recent years, the material remains in many industrial buildings build before the 1980s, placing workers at an increased lung cancer risk.
A study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that more than 427,000 lives were lost from 1999 to 2010 due to early deaths from mesothelioma lung cancer and asbestosis, the two most common diseases caused by asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer that spreads across internal body membranes and is highly resistant to standard treatments. Asbestosis is a form of lung scarring caused by exposure to asbestos materials.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Ohio asbestos lawyer investigating mesothelioma and lung cancer claims for former Atlantic Foundry workers. The Firm works nationally and accepts cases on full contingency to eliminate the financial risk from the family.
Atlantic Foundry Asbestos Exposure
Workplace asbestos exposure can occur without the knowledge that toxins are even present. However, studies indicate that steel plant workers have developed far more lung cancer cases than employees of other industries. Asbestos was likely present in the following materials:
- Insulation
- Piping
- Boilers
- Welding rods
- Floor and ceiling tiles
- Machinery and equipment
- Drywall
- Cement
- Furnaces
- Gaskets
- Fireproofing
- Adhesives
- Valves
According to OSHA, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and even a short acute duration of exposure can lead to serious health complications. Employers may have known the risks of toxic exposure and downplayed the concerns and failed to warn employees.
As a result, many lung cancer cases have been settled and plaintiffs have been compensated by asbestos trust funds, even after companies like Atlantic Foundry go bankrupt.
Former workers who have developed cancers related to their time spent at Atlantic or another steel plant can file occupational exposure lawsuits and recover rightful compensation to help pay for medical costs and personal damages.
