St. Louis Mesothelioma Lawyer

• chest pain
• severe fatigue
• shortness of breath.

What is Asbestos?

Common signs of mesothelioma are often mistaken for other conditions, leading to diagnosis errors and delays. Detecting mesothelioma early on is the only way for a successful prognosis and to extend patients’ life expectancies. Common mesothelioma signs and symptoms are:

• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Severe fatigue
• Anemia
• Frequent coughing

Two of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund List sites are in Missouri. These are places that the government-mandated cleanups due to the presence of asbestos and other toxins:

Lake City Army Ammunition Plant

The Independence-based plant was found to have asbestos siding, construction debris, PCBs, metals, and other toxic materials on its 4,000-acre property. The EPA mandated extensive cleanup efforts at the site in 1989. The area was declared to not need further action in 2009.

Weldon Springs Chemical Plant & Quarry

Two two sites, located roughly four miles apart, were used to convert and process uranium and thorium. The materials and decay products contaminated the surrounding areas. Cleanup was mandated in 2001.

How Does Asbestos Exposure Cause Mesothelioma?

• 748 Missouri residents died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2015.
• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), St. Louis County has the highest rate of asbestos-related deaths, with an estimated 835 deaths between 1999 and 2013.
• Missouri’s mesothelioma mortality rate is about 7.5 people per every one million, according to the CDC.
• According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Missouri has four known asbestos occurrences. Two were former mines and two are natural deposits in the Ozark Mountain regions.

The most common locations where individuals are exposed to asbestos in the St. Louis area include:

Manufacturing Plants

Several Missouri-based manufacturers produced products containing asbestos. GAF Corporation later renamed Ruberoid, produced asbestos-containing roofing materials at its St. Louis plant. CertainTeed produced asbestos-cement pipes at its St. Louis location. Both companies were found to have improperly disposed of hazardous asbestos waste.

Automotive Assembly Plants

Even today, some automotive manufacturers still use asbestos in parts such as brake linings. Mack Truck Assembly plant in Joplin is known to have used parts containing asbestos, putting workers and mechanics at risk.

Mines

Asbestos has been found in several Missouri mines including a manganese mine in Winona, a copper mine in Astoria, and an unnamed mine in the Mark Twain National Forest.

Breweries

Several older breweries used asbestos in their buildings and equipment. Former workers at Columbia, Empire, and M.K. Goetze brewing companies could be at risk.

A mesothelioma lawsuit can help you or a loved one claim compensation for injuries, medical bills, death, travel costs, and other expenses. Reach out to an experienced St. Louis mesothelioma lawyer to build a successful St. Louis mesothelioma lawsuit. To file your lawsuit, you will need to provide:

• Medical records that document all asbestos-related suffering
• Records of work history that show that you or a loved one worked for a company noted in an asbestos lawsuit
• Financial records detailing the financial hardships you and your family have faced due to asbestos exposure and mesothelioma
• Any testimonies that help prove that exposure to asbestos resulted in mesothelioma