Florida Asbestos Disease

A strong fibrous mineral that is chemical and heat resistant and sound absorbent, many thought asbestos was an ideal manufacturing material until its hazardous nature was exposed. It is now known to cause a number of serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. People facing dangerous illnesses due to its effects have the right to sue for compensation from former employers and companies who knowingly risked their health.

Common Sources of Asbestos

The Environmental Protection Agency's 1989 publication of Asbestos: Manufacture, Importation, Processing, and Distribution in Commerce Prohibitions resulted in the banning and careful regulation of asbestos-containing products in the United States. Despite this, asbestos is still found in many materials people encounter daily, such as—

Cement
Brake linings
Roof shingles
Flooring products
Textiles
Thermal insulation products
Joint compounds
Corrugated asbestos-cement roof sheets
Roof coatings
Clutch facings
Commercial and industrial asbestos friction products
Rollboard
Asbestos-cement flat sheet
Flooring felt
Non-roof coatings

Disc brake pads
Drum brake linings
Commercial, corrugated, and specialty paper
Asbestos-cement shingle
Sheet and beater-add gaskets (except specialty industrial)
Asbestos-cement pipe
Pipe insulation wrap
Vinyl/asbestos floor tile
Ceiling tile
Roofing felt
Automatic transmission components
Brake blocks
Millboard

Florida Asbestosis

Exposure to asbestos facilities has been widespread for decades, resulting in one of the highest mesothelioma death rates in the United States.* Estimates indicate that workers and families in approximately 73 Florida cities may have been exposed to the material through—

Occupational exposure: workers dealing directly with materials containing asbestos
Para-occupational exposure: family members in close contact to workers' clothes and asbestos dust
Neighborhood exposure: residents of communities where asbestos was used in factories, schools, and other facilities

Locations that have been suspected or confirmed as sources of asbestos in Pensacola alone are—

Arizona Chemical Plant
Ashland Chemical
Champion Paper Mill
Chemstrand Nylon Plant
Egling Air Force Base
Gulf Power Plant
International Paper Mill
Monsanto Chemical
Monsanto Textiles

Monsanto Nylon Fiber Plant
National Cork Co
Newport chemical Plant
Pensacola Naval Air Station
Pensacola Naval Shipyard
St. Regis Paper Company
San Carlos Hotel
Tenneco

Read on for a list of Florida facilities where workers may have been exposed to asbestos>>

How a Florida Asbestos Lawyer Can Help

While the Asbestos and Silica Compensation Fairness Act of 2005 prevents individuals exposed to asbestos who do not show any signs of side effects from suing the companies who caused their exposure, speaking to an experienced Florida asbestosis or mesothelioma attorney may help lead to early diagnosis of a potentially deadly medical condition. The lawyers of Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner & Proctor, P.A. have a thorough knowledge of the dangers of asbestos and its presence in our area. Should your exposure lead to mesothelioma, our Florida asbestos cancer law firm provides prompt, compassionate legal assistance to families or individuals filing lawsuits.

Know your law firm. Know your rights.

Levin Papantonio regularly works with victims of asbestos exposure throughout Florida, including Miami-Dade County, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, and St. Petersburg. Our attorneys represent clients suffering from asbestosis in Florida throughout all state and federal courts. We perform home or hospital visits for clients unable to travel to our office and our firm operates on a contingency fee basis for all mesothelioma cases.

Contact our Pensacola office at 888-771-4278 for a free initial consultation about Florida asbestos law.

¿Se habla español? Levin Papantonio regularly assists Spanish-speaking mesothelioma clients.