A man previously diagnosed with mesothelioma has recently been awarded a $3,333,500 settlement for contracting the asbestos-related disease.
James Johnson, a 75-year-old New Jersey resident, is a former carpenter who specialized in the installation of ceilings and commercial applications. Working with ceiling tiles and acoustic ceilings that were manufactured in the past are two common ways construction workers can experience asbestos exposure.
Exposure to asbestos has been known to cause a number of asbestos-related conditions, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer. Malignant mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. While no immediate side effects will arise after being exposed, symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath can occur as much as 50 years after the initial exposure occurred.
Mr. Johnson had reportedly been in good health prior to his mesothelioma diagnosis. In the case, the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing products that he used and worked around were sued. The worksites he worked at during his employment throughout New Jersey were also sued.
Primarily used for its insulating and fireproofing capabilities, asbestos was incorporated into an estimated 3,000 construction products. Due to the widespread use of asbestos, all workers within the construction industry may have been exposed to the toxic mineral at some point during their employment.
For this reason, all safety precautions should be taken when potentially working around asbestos-containing materials. Such measures of safety may include wearing a HEPA face mask or following the proper steps for removing asbestos.
Additional information on mesothelioma may be found through the mesothelioma Center.