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The medical data collected from the government of North Dakota in 2004 shows 10 deaths resulting from Mesothelioma each year. Apart from this, 500 people in the state are diagnosed with clinical symptoms of Mesothelioma who have filed compensation claims. However, there is a conflict here as the data collected in 1999 shows 4 deaths resulting annually from Mesothelioma.
According to the most relevant searches, up till now 94 people have fell victim to asbestos related diseases in North Dakota as proved by government death records. Out of these, 66 are reported to die from Mesothelioma alone.
The most important thing to remember is that Mesothelioma only results from asbestos exposure. Anyone who has worked with asbestos and inhaled it is likely to get Mesothelioma. Not only this but people who inhale asbestos indirectly from the clothing, shoes and hair of the people working with asbestos can get Mesothelioma. Also, it takes a long time for the symptoms to appear. After 20-30 years when the symptoms appear, the immune system is already weakened and the cancer has invaded the body completely. This results in death of the patient within a year of diagnosis.
Mesothelioma can be of two types i-e peritoneal Mesothelioma or cancer of the stomach lining or pleural Mesothelioma or cancer of the lining of the lungs. Both these kinds can be equally dangerous to life and cause shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, stomach pains and irregular bowel movements.
Mesothelioma in North Dakota
Below are the figures for the number of deaths, mortality rate (per million population), and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in North Dakota in the year 1999, among residents aged 15 years and older.
State |
|
Crude Mortality |
Rate |
Rank |
|
Age-Adjusted Mortality |
Rate |
Rank |
|
VYLL to life Expectancy |
Total |
Rank |
VYLL/death |
Rank |
|
North Dakota |
4 |
50 |
7.92 |
43 |
7.37 |
45 |
53 |
50 |
13.2 |
32 |
It came to be known that the main cause of Mesothelioma in north Dakota is the 317 shipments or 25,992 tons of asbestos contaminated vermiculite sent from Libby, Montana to 3 locations in North Dakota including Stanton, Minot and Center during 1948 and 1993. Among all these places, Stanton was the one to get the largest shipment of vermiculite.
26, Fourth Avenue, NE Robinson Insulation Company in Minot has been listed by the state government as the place with large storage of asbestos materials. 16,000 tons of vermiculite was processed here till 1967 after which it was shut down in 1983. As reported by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), no workplace safety or preventive measures were taken to protect the workers from asbestos. As a result many people working here were later diagnosed with Mesothelioma.
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