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Fatality rates resulting from Mesothelioma are not very high in Missouri. The main reason for this is that the Missouri government did not recognize this deadly cancer as a fatal disease until a few decades back. Due to this fact, deaths resulting from Mesothelioma before 1999 were gravely miscalculated. When the drive to detect Mesothelioma cases was launched, it was found that more than 2,300 people were suffering from this deadly cancer as compared to the previous results which showed 935 people.
A rare and fatal cancer, Mesothelioma attacks the Mesothelium, the protective sac for most of the body’s internal organs such as heart, lungs, stomach etc. Being a very aggressive cancer, it develops in the pleura, lining of the lungs or the peritoneum, lining of the stomach. This form of cancer is the most deadly one to be discovered up till now which spreads to the whole body within a year of diagnosis finally resulting in death.
Asbestos inhalation is the main reason behind this disease. People who work on daily basis with asbestos or asbestos industry are at highest risk of contracting this cancer. Shipyards, dockyards, construction and insulation industries, asbestos mines and mills and auto workshops are the most likely places where one can develop this cancer. People who worked in these places before 1989 were faced with an even higher risk, as asbestos was one of the main products to be used in more than 3,000 items.
The use of asbestos has been banned since late 80’s and the government has implemented strict regulation and safety measures for workplaces so that people can be spared from this deadly disease. Due to late discovery of this disease, millions of people fell victim to this cancer and lost their lives in ignorance.
Mesothelioma in Missouri
Below are the figures for the number of deaths, mortality rate (per million population), and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in Missouri 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 |
|
Missouri |
49 |
17 |
11.35 |
31 |
10.73 |
31 |
618 |
19 |
12.6 |
43 |
At least 618 people have been inflicted with Mesothelioma in Missouri since 1979. According to an estimate, more than 1000 people died due to this disease alone. This figure is high because around 143,152 tons of asbestos contaminated vermiculite was shipped from Libby, Montana to 13 locations from 1948 to 1993 to Missouri. Saint Louis, Kansas City, Verona and Springfield as well as 9 other unknown locations received this asbestos material. Out of these, 1,599 of these shipments were sent inside the state. The Zonolite Company located at 1705 Sulphur Avenue in St. Louis is being investigated for storing asbestos in their warehouse.
Contact a Mesothelioma attorney if you are suffering from this deadly disease and you contracted it due to an unsafe working environment. We have listed Mesothelioma attorneys in each state on this site to help you find suitable legal help. |
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