Mesothelioma Awareness Day To Include Display at New York's Rockefeller Plaza

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Joseph W. Belluck

Unlike some forms of cancer, mesothelioma is an entirely preventable disease, so education and additional research is critical.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 9, 2010

New York personal injury attorney Joseph W. Belluck says Mesothelioma Awareness Day, scheduled for September 26, serves as a valuable reminder that people continue to die needlessly from asbestos-related disease and that more public education is needed to avoid asbestos exposure.

“Many people incorrectly assume that asbestos is a thing of the past, but in fact, the number of people developing mesothelioma is still on the increase,” said Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox, LLP, a New York law firm that focuses on representing victims of mesothelioma. “Unlike some forms of cancer, mesothelioma is an entirely preventable disease, so education and additional research is critical.”

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the lining of the lung and abdomen closely associated with inhaling microscopic asbestos dust. Typically, the symptoms of the disease appear at least 10 years or longer after exposure. About 2,500 to 3,000 Americans die each year of mesothelioma and thousands more die of lung cancer related to asbestos.

This year, Mesothelioma Awareness Day in New York will include a window display during the month of September at 10 Rockefeller Plaza, including a video about the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma, according to the Meso Foundation, a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to finding a cure for mesothelioma. The window display at Rockefeller Plaza is being donated by the pharmaceutical company EHE International, a leader in preventive medicine and early detection of preventable disease.

“People don’t realize how widespread asbestos remains in older buildings and factories or how many occupations the disease affects,” Belluck said. “An estimated 1.3 million construction and general industry workers remain exposed to asbestos. Greater public awareness can help build support for additional research dollars to find ways to identify people who are likely to develop the disease and to detect the disease sooner.”

The United States has limited the use of asbestos since the 1970s but failed to ban asbestos. Yet, a recent analysis by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that the number of deaths of malignant mesothelioma increased 2,482 in 1999 to 2,705 in 2005, the most recent year of complete data. Researchers expect the incidence of mesothelioma to remain elevated above historical levels until 2050.

About Belluck & Fox, LLP

Belluck & Fox, LLP is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, medical malpractice, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm has won more than $200 million in compensation for its clients and their families. For more information, contact the firm at 877-695-2909 or through the online contact form.

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