The process of refining crude oil into gasoline and other products is essential to modern life, but it could be deadly to the lives of thousands of people who have worked in oil refineries. Mesothelioma can take 20 to 50 years after exposure to develop. There are about 2000 cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year and a disproportionate number of them are found in former oil refinery workers. Because the refining process involves the application of high heat to potentially flammable materials, there is a constant risk of fire in refineries.  To minimize the risk and, ironically, to protect workers, heat-resistant asbestos was traditionally used throughout refineries.  Asbestos or Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) can still be found as insulation around pipes, … Continue reading More Mesothelioma Among Oil Refinery Workers »