Why Asbestos, Mesothelioma, Black Mold

I write about these topics because I have lived in houses and apartments in my home city, Vancouver, Canada, where I was exposed without knowledge to both asbestos and black mold. I also know that many of my friends and colleges have experienced the same thing - we do not know if we have been affected though, as it is difficult to spot this early on, and most of us aren't worried enough (or too worried) to go through the rigorous testing at this point; silly, I know. (Other reasons are also that some of the places were illegally subleted to us without our knowledge of any wrong-doing.)

I am concerned that so many apartments, houses, offices, warehouses, restaurants, shopping malls, and more are made with asbestos products; and that people don't get mold inspections, or use Home Mold Tests more often.

I am also very upset that businesses, landlords, and builders do not disclose that asbestos was used in the building process, or that deadly mold has taken hold.

This kind of thing should not happen! People know better, but don't disclose because of greed or fear...well I want to bring awareness. I can't always choose where I can live (like many other people in my situation) so maybe I can help create awareness so that the places I end up are safer than they have been in the past.

Asbestos Causes Cancer

Some of you might respond with a resounding "duh," but according to this some people think that asbestos is still safe if it's "white asbestos". Canada used to follow this ideal until quite recently, but many other countries have "okay'd" the use of certain types of asbestos for manufacturing. On top of that: many of the countries that still produce products with asbestos in them, continue to export those products (like hairdryers) to other countries where asbestos is banned.

Maybe that is why the (lung) cancer rate is so high among non-smokers. We need to ban asbestos use in all consumer and industrial products, don't you agree?

How to get an attorney for asbestos exposure

If you have think you have had exposure to asbestos, either through inhalation or ingestion, then you should first confirm this with you doctor through a series of scans and tests.

If you have tested positive for exposure to asbestos - and you weren't aware that lung cancer, and other heath problems, were a potential hazard of your living or working conditions - then you should contact a lawyer or get in touch with a law firm as to rectify the situation: especially if others are still are risk, and if that is the case then the proper authorities should be notified as soon as possible! But if you have health problems, and you cannot afford to pay for the care, and the help, that you so desperately need because of your exposure: then you should not also have to pay for your suffering.

Lawyers and Law Firms that represent people that have contracted Mesothelioma or lung cancer from exposure to asbestos are abundant. Everyone wants to represent these cases because it is usually the fault of a large corporation, landlord, or government that did not disclose the potential hazards of being around asbestos and other toxic products.

Before getting any attorney you should read this consumer report on how to make sure your not going to get scammed: How to get a good mmesothelioma attorney.html

You should try to find someone local that can represent your best interests and get you exactly, or more than, what you will need to keep your family and yourself in the best possible health - all things considered. Make sure you ask about their past cases (or research them yourself) and make sure they are seriously interested in the same things that you are.

Asbestos and Class Action Lawsuits

Class action lawsuits have not been used often in asbestos cases. Most often people try to represent themselves and pursue legal action as an individual, as opposed to with a larger group of distraught and affected peoples.

Although there have been a few cases of class action legal battles involving asbestos and mesothelioma since the '60s, they are very infrequent compared to a single client-attorney case involving asbestos exposure.

If you are interested in a starting a class action lawsuit because of asbestos and mesothelioma then please check out the below links (more will be posted when they become available):

• Mesothelioma Lawyers and Class Action Lawsuits
• Asbestos Attorney for Class Action Lawsuit

Mesothelioma Attorney Lawyers and Symptoms

So if your wondering if you have mesothelioma and need an attorney then here is the info you (we) need.

What is Mesothelioma? Malignant Mesothelioma, as it is otherwise known as, is a form of cancer that develops in the protective lining on the inside of the lungs and other organs (the lining is called the mesothelium).

What are the symptoms of Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma symptoms do not start to show until about 20+ years after exposure. So if you think you have been exposed to asbestos then you should get regular scans and checkups. Sometimes early symptoms may include: emphysema, constipation,weight gain, congestive heart failure, night sweats, shortness of breath, chest pain, bowel obstruction, a buildup of fluid on a chest x-ray, and swelling of the feet. Testicular Mesothelioma is even rarer and only about 100 cases have been found, but lumps on the testicles and swelling of the scrotum are often early symptoms.

How do I find a good lawyer for Mesothelioma? Here are some lists of some attorney's from some of the larger cities in Canada and USA:
Vancouver Canada Mesothelioma Lawyers or check out the Canadian Society for Asbestos Sufferers
New York Mesothelioma Attorney and NY and National Asbestos lawyers
Mesothelioma Lawyer Tennessee
California Mesothelima Attorneys
Toronto Canada Asbestos Injury Lawyer
Las Vegas Nevada Mesothelioma Attorneys
Illinois Asbestos Lawyer
Florida Mesothelioma Firm
Seattle Asbestos Firm

I will post more links to Mmesothelioma attorney's and law firms for other cities when I find them. If you know any good ones - or if I should remove any of these - then please post your thoughts in the comments.

 

From Asbestos to Black Mold to Asbestos

I live in Vancouver, Canada, and housing is expensive here - prices skyrocketed especially after we hosted to 2010 winter Olympics. I am a student: so I rent, because I don't make enough to buy a home in a city that $1,000,000 is a regular asking price for a "decent home."

 The places I have lived have been cheep by Vancouver standards. I lived in a 1 bedroom (1500 sqft) apartment in a bad neighborhood for over a year for $950/month. I didn't know it at the time but the beautiful tile floor in the kitchen (one of the selling points for me) was actually made of pressed asbestos tiles. The landlord never mentioned this, and like most landlords I have had in Vancouver: the landlord was negligent at best about the condition and hazards of the apartment or house that they rented out, or sold. I should have taken legal action even then - but we Canadians try to be easy going and avoid legal battles and lawyers fee's if possible.

The next place I lived had "toxic" black mold growing inside of the walls, one of my roommates was very sick with uncontrollable coughing for about two years - before he died suddenly in his sleep - while he was living in the basement where the mold was seeping out of the walls. The basement also started to flood, and the furnace was leaking carbon monoxide; but the landlord refused to make any repairs. After we couldn't pay rent - because our other roommate died and couldn't pay his share - we tried to go to the city, get an court attorney, and try to get help with our negligent landlord, but we lost the hearing and became evicted: with 7 days to vacate the premises. That place was $1650/month for a 5 bedroom house that potentially killed one of our roommates. We should have taken this case to a professional lawyer and not used a court appointed one, but money is very difficult for lower-middle class people, in this economy, living in Vancouver.

We were forced to find a place quickly (we have a single-mom with a 2-year-old living at the house, so we needed something urgently so they wouldn't be on the street - thanks COV for kicking us out of a death trap with no alternative). We found a short term (2 month solution for $1850) in a decent area with a park nearby for the mom and her son. The place is in bad condition, but it wasn't flooding, and no visible mold. There was cat urine on the carpets that had turned into some kind of jelly because it had been sitting so long, and the walls have holes kicked through them, and the place stank like cat pee and rotting meat. We later found out that the whole attic is filled with loose-spray asbestos, and that some of the walls with holes in them are also filled with loose fill asbestos.

We are still at the house and are considering legal action for our last place, but considering that the only person who has shown symptoms is dead - and our last lawyer didn't do us any good. Plus we are all students or wage laborers : so we can't really afford legal fees. We are looking for a new place to live, but Vancouver is not a great city for housing unless you have a lot of money.

I will continue to let you know what else happens, and I would love to hear your opinions - although if it concerns getting a good lawyer and such - then I hope that the lawyer in question is free, or you feel like flipping the bill, because we are all students and low-income families.

Thanks for reading.