Bangor, Maine Asbestos Exposure

Bangor Mesothelioma Attorney

Bangor’s very own Bangor Daily News reported on CDC research in April of 2017 that revealed mesothelioma — a cancer caused by asbestos exposure — is killing Maine residents at the highest rate in the country. Maine is one of just two states where the annual death rate from malignant mesothelioma exceed 20 deaths per million residents between 1999 and 2015.

These troubling statistics are paired with CDC statistics that reveal Maine also has one of the highest incidence rates for mesothelioma. A few factors are the most likely causes for Maine’s uniquely high rates of mesothelioma.

The combination of Maine’s old housing and the propensity of Maine residents to work in the construction and shipbuilding industries — two occupational industries that were at high risk for asbestos use and exposure throughout the 1900s — are two extremely relevant causal factors that have led to Maine’s high mesothelioma death rates and mesothelioma incidence rates.

Bangor Asbestos Exposure

While it is clear that Maine has a statewide asbestos and mesothelioma issue to solve, Bangor also conforms to this general trend. Five job sites in Bangor has caused asbestos-related injuries and illnesses for workers who were exposed to asbestos, including the Bangor Shoe Company, as well as James Taylor Hospital and a local high school.

Bangor was also home to Dow Air Force Base, which was created in 1927 before being sold to become Bangor International Airport in 1968. Military veterans are a population that has been severely impacted by asbestos exposure since bases were often built with asbestos throughout the 1900s.

Since almost every branch of the military used asbestos until the 1970s, approximately 30% of all mesothelioma deaths in America have been veterans who served their country. While Bangor is not a hub for military bases today, its history in the 1900s may very well lead to future asbestos-related illnesses.

Asbestos can take decades to manifest into an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma, which is why most mesothelioma deaths have occurred in individuals who are 85 and older. This fact underscores the reality that many mesothelioma victims are harmed decades after their asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma, in particular, develops very slowly. An individual who inhaled small asbestos fibers may not be diagnosed with mesothelioma until 70 years later, in some cases. Most Maine mesothelioma diagnoses are diagnosed when residents are between the ages of 55 and 84 as a result.

Talk to a Bangor Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you or a loved one in Bangor has been exposed to asbestos decades prior, talk to a lawyer immediately upon receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. Finding a lawyer you trust can ensure you and your loved ones receive compensation from companies who wrongly exposed your family to the harms of asbestos.

At The Ledger Law Firm, we will be with you each step of the way to ensure you receive the legal representation and counsel needed to hold these companies accountable. Contact us for a legal consultation to discuss your Maine mesothelioma case.

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If you were wrongly exposed to asbestos that caused your asbestos-related illness, speak to a Bangor mesothelioma attorney who will pursue your right to compensation.