WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2004--The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an organization dedicated to serving as the voice of asbestos victims, today launched the ADAO Coalition for Asbestos Awareness, in honor of the anniversary of the passing of Warren Zevon on September 7, 2003. The ADAO Coalition for Asbestos Awareness has established an online petition at http://www.gopetition.com/online/5020.html to easily unite concerned citizens about asbestos, a hazardous and lethal material. Coalition members are expected to include individuals and organizations representing numerous professions including high risk groups like: veterans, shipbuilders, firefighters, teachers, labors, and retirees; as well as physicians specializing in Pulmonology, Radiology, Thoracic Surgery and Oncology.
The Coalition's goals include:
-- Unite concerned citizens.
-- Alert citizens commonly exposed to asbestos.
-- Educate the medical community.
-- Advise legislators on asbestos issues.
-- Increase funding for new treatments and a cure.
-- Support safe and effective asbestos removal.
-- Support Senate Bill 1115 to ban asbestos.
"Ignorance about asbestos isn't bliss," said Jordan Zevon, ADAO National Spokesperson, "it's deadly."
Asbestos exposure is linked to asbestosis, lung cancer, and an aggressive cancer called mesothelioma. Tragically, the latency period is between 10 - 50 years for most asbestos related diseases and patients are routinely diagnosed in the late stages of disease.
"Unknowingly, many innocent people have been occupationally or environmentally exposed to asbestos and know little about the early warning symptoms of asbestos related diseases," said Linda Reinstein, Executive Director, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "It's time the nation supports asbestos awareness. The Coalition's powerful proactive and collaborative effort will lead to prevention, early diagnosis, new treatments and a cure. "
The occurrence of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, is growing out of control. Studies estimate that during the next decade, 100,000 victims in the United States will die of an asbestos related disease - equaling 30 deaths per day.
About Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families. We seek to give asbestos victims a united voice to help ensure that our rights are fairly represented and protected. This includes our right to medical research and treatments aimed at early detection, prevention and a cure for asbestos related diseases; our right to file suit based on the merits of our individual asbestos related injustice; and the right to fair compensation. As an independent organization, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization will not be influenced by outside sources such as drug companies, law firms or companies that manufacture or use asbestos. ADAO is fully funded through voluntary contributions and staffed by volunteers. For more information, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.
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