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A new report suggests that workers in the wine making industry may be at risk for developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. The published report appeared in the October 8, 2014 edition of the Annals of Occupational Hygiene. The report focuses on a case study of an Italian winemaker who used chrysotile asbestos fibers in his wine filtering process. The winemaker worked on the wine farm from 1960 to 1988 and was later diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. He is the only known person to develop mesothelioma solely as a result of asbestos exposure incurred during winemaking.
The researchers also confirmed that eight other mesothelioma patients since 1993 had worked in the winemaking industry. However, they could not confirm that those eight patients developed mesothelioma as a result of their exposure to asbestos during their winemaking employment. Four of the subjects did not use wine filters containing asbestos. The other four, although they did use asbestos filters, were also exposed to asbestos on other jobs.
While other industries are well known to pose a risk of asbestos exposure to employees, the winemaking industry had not been previously recognized as a cause of asbestos-related cancer before this report was published. Although it could not definitively be determined that wine filters were responsible for the development of mesothelioma in the eight other patients who worked in the winemaking industry, the circumstances of the Italian winemaker’s disease are intriguing. His case may warrant further research to determine whether or not wine farm employees are at risk for developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos at work, it is in your best interest to contact the experienced Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at the Law Offices of Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler. Our attorneys understand how devastating a mesothelioma diagnosis is to individuals and their families. We will ensure that you obtain the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled to cover your medical costs. Call us at 800-369-0899 or contact us online to schedule a consultation in our Philadelphia mesothelioma law firm.