Asbestos, a dangerous mineral that is known to cause cancer in humans, turns up in some of the most unexpected places. This mineral was once highly used because it provides excellent insulation, and is incredibly resistant to flames and chemicals. It is also known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. For those who have been exposed to asbestos on the job, and they have contracted one of these diseases, they can collect compensation. An asbestos attorney can help get the process started.
History of Asbestos
Using asbestos is not a new concept. In fact, it has been around for thousands of years. Its easy to mine, easy to shape and form, and can be incorporated into a multitude of other materials (siding, cement, clothing, etc.) But even the dangers have been known for quite some time. Pliny the Younger, a slave owner in ancient Rome, noticed that the slaves who worked closely with asbestos often became sick and unable to work. Despite this knowledge, which was around at the end of the first century, using asbestos in construction purposes was not banned by the US government until 1973.
Why Anheuser Busch Used Asbestos
While it is easy to understand why a steel mill, or a chemical plant, would use asbestos, many are left wondering why a beer company would. It isnt as shocking as it first appears.
When making beer, the ingredients must all be boiled to a certain temperature, and kept at that temperature for a specific period of time. Cooler or hotter results in a batch of beer that tastes different from the rest of the batches. So in order to make a beer that is mass produced, and always tastes the same, good insulation needs to be used. That insulation, for many years, was asbestos.
However, even after the US banned the use of asbestos in construction, there was no law that required companies to go through and remove it from all of their existing factories. Instead, they were grandfathered in, and despite the knowledge that their employees were being subjected to prolonged exposure, the companies (like Anheuser Busch) left the asbestos in place. The result is now, 30 or 40 years later, many of those former employees have medical conditions that will end up taking their lives.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
If you were subjected to asbestos exposure, and you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma, you may be able to collect compensation to cover medical bills and other damages. There is no need to suffer alone because your former employer hurt you. Instead, get in touch with a personal injury attorney today to see how you can be made whole financially.
