Asbestos Exposure Archives | Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman LLP

Is Mesothelioma Deadly? 5 Things to Know About This Disease

Posted on October 15, 2025December 9, 2025 by Candice Paddock

You may have heard about mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer. You may think it is becoming a thing of the past or could never affect you or your family. But this disease continues to affect thousands of people each year. And, yes, it is deadly.

The Basics of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma affects the tissue that surrounds most internal organs, including lungs, stomach and intestines. This disease has one clear cause: asbestos exposure. Exposure to even small amounts of this fibrous, naturally occurring substance can lead to mesothelioma over time. Asbestos was widely used in construction, automotive and other products for years. And asbestos also contaminates talc products like baby powders and cosmetics.

Risk of asbestos exposure complicates reno work on State Capitol building

Posted on July 29, 2025August 28, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

A major upgrade planned for the Hawai‘i ‘State Capitol building is complicated by concern that workers could be exposed to cancer-causing asbestos. The project has already been plagued by a hefty price tag—estimated at up to $100 million—and the potential prolonged closure of the building.

When the Hawai‘i State Capitol building last underwent major renovations in the 1990s, the project included removing asbestos present throughout the structure. Former Gov. John Waiheʻe acknowledged that although he had been assured that all asbestos had been removed from the building, particles might be discovered once the planned renovation work gets underway.

Hawai‘i’s Asbestos Legacy: A Growing Mesothelioma Threat

Posted on July 1, 2025August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Mesothelioma deaths in the U.S. surged by 20% between 1990 and 2019, according to BMC Public Health. This increase is tied directly to decades of asbestos exposure, especially among workers in construction, shipbuilding, military service, and manufacturing.

The rise in cases is particularly alarming in Hawai‘i, where thousands of veterans have been exposed to asbestos while working on Navy ships, submarines and maintenance facilities at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard since World War II. The state health department reported over 700 asbestos-related deaths between 1999 and 2017, including 139 from mesothelioma.

Navy Veterans Face Higher Risk of Mesothelioma

Posted on February 25, 2025August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Navy veterans have been exposed to cancer-causing asbestos fibers at levels higher than other branches of the military, according to new research.

According to a study of British and Australian veterans published in Scientific Reports, naval personnel have been exposed to higher levels of asbestos because of the time they spent on ships and submarines, particularly for service members who worked in engine rooms, where maintenance procedures involved disturbance of asbestos on pipework, turbines, boilers and other machinery. As a result, sailors suffer high rates of asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer, even when other lifestyle factors are controlled.

Hidden Asbestos Danger Lurks in Aging Homes, Buildings

Posted on January 14, 2025August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Asbestos has been widely used in the construction of buildings in Hawai‘i for generations. According to the Hawai‘i State Department of Health, most residential buildings in Hawaii contain some asbestos, which can be found in ceilings, walls, insulation and flooring.

While these materials pose little risk when a building is kept in good condition, they become hazardous when asbestos is disturbed. Storms, high winds and natural disasters can cause minute fibers to break away and create a risk to human health.

Despite restrictions on asbestos, Hawai‘i residents continue to succumb to mesothelioma cancer

Posted on December 18, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

While it’s well-established that the deadly form of cancer known as mesothelioma is caused solely by exposure to asbestos, thousands of people throughout the U.S. mainland and Hawaii continue to die from the disease every year.

About 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are registered each year in the United States. In Hawaii, there are approximately 38 asbestos-related deaths a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Mesothelioma was discovered in the late nineteenth century and gradually came to be associated with exposure to asbestos. The mineral has been used throughout history, but as the Industrial Revolution took hold, more and more uses were found.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Aren’t Going Away

Posted on December 3, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

The serious health risks associated with asbestos exposure have been known for generations. The naturally occurring fiber is the only known cause of mesothelioma, an incurable and deadly form of cancer of the lining of the lungs and internal organs. Legal and regulatory scrutiny of asbestos use has ramped up over the years — including a 2024 ban on chrysotile asbestos — but an alarming number of Americans continue to die from mesothelioma every year. While mesothelioma diagnosis rates have fallen among men, they have remained steady among women.

Global Mesothelioma Cases Surge as Asbestos Use Continues

Posted on October 29, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Cases of mesothelioma around the world have been increasing along with a rise in the global use of asbestos, despite an acknowledgment more than 40 years ago by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic.

Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, a cancer of the tissue that lines the lungs, chest wall, and abdomen. Given that asbestos continues to be used globally in a variety of commercial products, it’s not surprising that mesothelioma cases and deaths associated with the disease have been rising too.

5 Most Common Ways People Are Exposed to Asbestos

Posted on April 2, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Until about four decades ago, most structures in Hawaii were built with material containing asbestos, including the state’s military bases, state buildings, homes and even schools.

While the health risks from these materials are well-known today, the use of asbestos – while highly regulated in Hawaii – is still allowed in certain products, creating serious risk for anyone who comes in contact with them.

Asbestos is composed of six minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers that can be separated into extremely fine threads for commercial and industrial uses. The fibers are resistant to heat, fire and chemicals and do not conduct electricity.

Law Firm Earns 1 of the Top 50 Largest Injury Settlements of 2022

Posted on March 6, 2024August 18, 2025 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

A multi-million dollar litigation settlement secured by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman trial lawyers is recognized among the Top 50 in the nation for 2022. The case underscores the Hawai’i-based firm’s ability to handle some of the most challenging types of injury litigation, which include asbestos exposure and sex assault.

The case involved a $5.63 million settlement on behalf of a Hawai’i student who was sexually assaulted by a teacher, according to an analysis of state and federal records by researchers at TopVerdict.com.

“Sexual assault litigation is extremely difficult. The victims often feel like the legal system is uncaring and victimizes them all over again. It’s extremely gratifying to represent these individuals and help them obtain justice,” said Galliher DeRobertis & Waxman lawyers Ilana Waxman and Chris Johnson, who played leadership roles in the case. “We were able to win a significant settlement that avoided having the victim testify in trial. Recognition like this is just another indication that our passion for clients and their causes can make a difference.”