Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals that was mined starting as long ago as 4,000 years ago. Large-scale mining of asbestos began at the beginning of the 19th century when it gained popularity amongst manufacturers and builders for its properties of tensile strength, sound absorption, and its resistance to heat, fire and electricity. The use of asbestos continued to grow throughout most of the 20th century until public knowledge of its health hazards led to its outlawing of use in mainstream construction and fireproofing.
Asbestos Exposure
If you know you have been exposed to asbestos, it is important to see a doctor as soon as you can. If you found out more recently that you were exposed to asbestos a long time ago, it is important for you to seek medical attention and guidance. Many people who have been exposed to asbestos do not become ill with mesothelioma but unfortunately some people do, and science has not yet been able to pinpoint who is going to be susceptible to asbestos related mesothelioma.
In addition to mesothelioma, inhalation of asbestos fibers has been linked to causing lung cancer and asbestosis.
When asbestos is broken up, it creates a dust that can be toxic if inhaled or swallowed. Common reasons for breaking asbestos up include, what happens during the mining process or what happens when removing asbestos insulation. When the dust from broken up asbestos is swallowed or inhaled, the asbestos fibers can settle in the lungs or stomach and cause irritation that may lead to mesothelioma. It is not understood how exactly this leads to mesothelioma but research indicates that it definitely does. Mesothelioma typically takes 20 to 40 years for mesothelioma to develop after exposure.
The rate of incidence of mesothelioma has been found to be higher in populations of people who live near naturally occurring asbestos. This can be caused by the use of asbestos in industries such as mining or road construction, as well as from naturally occurring weathering of rock that contains asbestos.
Many people who have been exposed to asbestos over a long period of time, never develop mesothelioma whereas, sometimes people who have had very brief exposure to it develop the horrible disease. This is an indication that there are other factors involved in determining whether or not someone will get mesothelioma but as of yet, science has not definitively identified what these factors are.
Working with Asbestos
Before the health hazards of asbestos exposure was realized, many, many people from past generations were exposed to asbestos. Now that the use of asbestos in the United States is regulated fewer people are exposed to it but many people who work with it, may not be aware they do. Jobs that may encounter asbestos fibers include:
- Miners
- Factory worker
- Construction workers
- Auto mechanics
- Ship builders
- Insulation manufacturers
If you work in any of the above industries or suspect that you may be exposed to asbestos in a different kind of work environment, ask your employer whether you have a risk of asbestos exposure on the job.
Employer Responsibilities
If your employer did not disclose the possibility of asbestos exposure to you when you were hired, you may be entitled to compensation in the event this exposure causes you financial hardship from the expenses it may create.
If you know that you may be exposed to asbestos while on the job, follow all the safety rules and precautions as laid out by your employer. Protective clothing, gear and other equipment may be required as well as showering after work and changing out of your work clothes before taking a break to eat or leave the facility where asbestos exposure is possible. If your employer does not provide sufficient safety gear and equipment, their negligence may make them liable for causing employees to fall ill or employees who have the risk of falling ill in the future.
It is always a good idea to have a reliable physician you go to for yearly check-ups, even if you rarely get sick. Talk to your physician about other precautions you may be able to take to further protect yourself from asbestos exposure.
Asbestos in Your Home
Older apartment buildings, condominiums, houses, and other dwellings may contain asbestos. Each structure is unique and their requirements for asbestos removal will differ. For many buildings, unless asbestos is already exposed, removing it is more dangerous than leaving it.
For your own peace of mind, it is important to know whether or not a building you live in is exposing your and your family to asbestos. If you are not the owner of the building, it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure their building is up to safety codes.
Asbestos removal is a booming business with people who are trained to detect asbestos and to safely remove it as needed. These people can typically test the air in your home to determine whether the asbestos is a risk to your health. You may wish to get a second opinion from other companies that specialize in asbestos detection and removal.