March 21st, 2005

A recent report has confirmed that Beaumont-Port Arthur has the second highest number of asbestos related fatalities in Texas. The report showed that around 260 Texans passed away from asbestos related diseases and out of these, 34 of the deaths were in Beaumont-Port Arthur. The highest number of Texan deaths relating to asbestos was in Houston, which showed 44 deaths, and Dallas came third with 25 asbestos related deaths.

As a whole, Texas is the fifth highest area nationwide when it comes to asbestos related deaths, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. This most recent study related to these two asbestos related diseases only, and stated: "On the national level, roughly 60 percent of the 10,000 people who die each year from asbestos exposure die from cancer or causes not reflected in mesothelioma or asbestosis mortality statistics."

Lawsuits for asbestos related injuries are still climbing in Texas. A spokesman for one Texan group, ‘Texans for Lawsuit Reform’ stated that the legal system is being flooded by suits from people with no evidence of illness, whereas those that are truly suffering are missing out on compensation for that very reason. He stated: "We believe that so much money is being awarded to healthy claimants that true victims are receiving a fraction of what they should be receiving. Companies go out of business that need to provide compensation to victims. This legislation puts true victims first and takes out of the system healthy claimants -- but protects their right to sue at a later date."