Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating April 1-7, 2014 as Global Asbestos Awareness Week. This week is an opportunity to spread awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure and educate the public that asbestos, a recognized human carcinogen by multiple health agencies, has not been fully banned in the United States.
Linda Reinstein, President of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, kicked off the week by sharing her own story and an info graphic that details the history of asbestos in the United States.
In 2003, Linda’s husband Alan was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a disease caused by asbestos exposure with no cure.
The Reinstein family, like most American families, trusted that other entities, private and public, would do their part to protect the environment and avoid actions that would harm human life. Sadly, that was not the case, and over the next three years Linda and her young daughter watched as Alan slowly died from a preventable disease.
Alan’s mesothelioma diagnosis motivated Linda to co-found the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization in 2004. ADAO, a non-profit organization, supports asbestos victims and advocates on Capitol Hill for policies that will prevent asbestos exposure and hopefully lead to a total asbestos ban in the United States.
As part of her continuing efforts, she and Dr. Richard Lemen, Co-Chair of ADAO’s science advisory board, have released an infographic that details the deadly history of asbestos exposure. It includes facts such as “Every day 30 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused diseases. That’s the equivalent of 6 basketball teams disappearing form the court every day.”
Check out the info graphic here >>>
The Firm is proud to support ADAO as a 2014 Platinum Sponsor. Today, we would like to recognize the difference the Reinstein Family has made in the asbestos and mesothelioma community through ADAO. This year ADAO celebrates its 10 year anniversary and through its legacy the memory of Alan and all those lost to asbestos-related diseases live on.
Click to read GAAW’s Day 1 “Asbestos: Legal and Lethal in the USA” >>>
