| |
There have been around 838 deaths caused by asbestos diseases in Oregon as reported by the government statistics. Out of this, around 431 to 721 people fell victim to Mesothelioma. However, this is not an accurate figure as federal government only recognized Mesothelioma has a fatal disease in 1999.
Being a very dangerous and fatal disease, it is important at all costs to prevent it. However, one good thing is that it is also 100% preventable. If employers and government agencies had made an effort to enforce workplace standards and safety measures earlier, it would have been possible to avoid this fatal disease and save thousands of people who were later diagnosed with Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma and asbestos relation was first discovered in 1900’s. If it would have been realized sooner; there would be lesser Mesothelioma patients today. Providing protective clothing and masks are a 100% way to avoid asbestos inhalation.
As asbestos is the only cause of Mesothelioma, all these protective measure can ensure that workers will remain safe from this toxic material. Asbestos particles can settle in the lining of the lungs or the stomach and cause cancer within 20-30 years or more which is not curable. By the time, it is discovered it is already too late, the patient is on the verge of death as the immune system has weakened as well as the cancer has progressed too far to be treated.
The places where people are exposed to asbestos are shipyards, dockyards, construction and insulation, asbestos mines and mills and asbestos based industries where asbestos is abundantly used. Thus, it is important to follow the workplace guidelines by OSHA to prevent Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma in Oregon
Below are the figures for the number of deaths, mortality rate (per million population), and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in Oregon 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 |
|
Oregon |
32 |
22 |
12.14 |
26 |
11.66 |
25 |
405 |
25 |
12.6 |
43 |
During the years 1948 and 1993, Oregon received at least 1,856 shipments or 164,040 tons of asbestos contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana. It was sent to 11 locations in Oregon out of which 8 were sent to Portland while the other 3 locations remain anonymous.
ermiculite-Northwest Inc. at 2302 North Harding Avenue and the Supreme Perlite Company at 4600 North Suttle Road in Portland are suspected as sites which are responsible for processing large amounts of asbestos in their plants and exposing their employees to asbestos.
Another reason for high Mesothelioma rate in Oregon is the large shipyard industry in this state. A majority of people worked in construction and maintenance of US Navy warships. North Ridge Estate, a residential area in Klamath Falls was suspected in 2002 as having deposits of asbestos as naval bricks were constructed here during 1944. Around 80 buildings were constructed in the barracks which used asbestos based insulation. In 1970’ when these barracks were demolished, it released massive amounts of asbestos dust which was late inhaled by the residents of this area. Since then this property has been sealed by the EPA.
|
|
Information Packet
Get the Facts.