Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Honors Asbestos Victims on Workers Memorial Day; Day of Remembrance Promotes Increased Awareness about the Dangers of Asbestos.

WASHINGTON -- The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an organization dedicated to serving as the voice of asbestos victims, honors and remembers the 56,000 workers killed due to work-related fatalities on Workers Memorial Day. Asbestos exposure is the world's leading cause of cancer in the workplace.

Although asbestos production globally has fallen since the 1970s, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 100,000 people die each year from work-related asbestos exposure.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) cites, "Workers in the construction trades are heavily exposed to asbestos." More than 30 million homes, schools and public buildings are contaminated with asbestos. Workers are constantly exposed as they decontaminate, demolish, repair and renovate structures that were built years ago with unbiodegradable asbestos materials.

The World Trade Center (WTC) collapse released an estimated 400 tons of toxic asbestos fibers. "The WTC Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program and its successor program, the WTC Medical Monitoring Program, have examined nearly 16,000 rescue and recovery workers," stated Stephen M. Levin, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "Our initial findings among this group of WTC responders indicate that roughly half suffered persistent WTC-related respiratory, gastrointestinal and/or psychological effects, long after their WTC efforts."

"Somberly, we honor and remember victims who have died from asbestos exposure," said Linda Reinstein, Executive Director, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "Americans and businesses can't afford to wait any longer for legislation that focuses on education instead of compensation. Tragically, many victims' symptoms go unrecognized for years before being diagnosed with an incurable respiratory disease or cancer. Prevention is our only cure for asbestos diseases."

About Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims a united voice to help ensure that their rights are fairly represented and protected, and raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and the often deadly asbestos related diseases. ADAO is funded through voluntary contributions and staffed by volunteers. For more information visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.