Asbestos Exposure and Asbestos Cancer Risk
The risk of asbestos lung cancer due to asbestos exposure has been known for more than 100 years. However, even though the dangers were clearly known, many companies that dealt with asbestos failed to tell their employees of the asbestos exposure risk. This has caused millions of workers to develop asbestos related diseases and resulted in over 600,000 asbestos claims being filed in the United States alone.
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring group of minerals that are arranged as bundles of fibers. Asbestos fibers have many beneficial qualities and were used extensively as a component in industrial and building products since the mid 1800s. Some of these unique qualities include resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. Plus, their tensile strength is very high and they do not conduct electricity. Due to their abilities they have been used in many industries including the construction, shipbuilding, gardening, and automotive industries.
Asbestos Exposure Still Causes Cancer Today
Although many types of asbestos products have been banned, asbestos is still used in some products. The United States EPA banned all new uses of asbestos in 1989, but any uses that were in place before this time are still allowed. Due to the vast amount of asbestos still found in certain industries, as well as school buildings, office buildings, and older homes, there are still thousands of asbestos exposure diseases diagnosed every year.
Asbestos is not dangerous until it becomes airborne. However, if a product is disturbed or damaged and tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air, they can be breathed into the lungs and become trapped, remaining there for decades. Over the course of many years, these asbestos fibers can cause scar tissue formation and inflammation, leading to asbestos exposure symptoms such as breathing difficulties, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Asbestos exposure can also bring about serious health disorders including mesothelioma, also referred to as asbestos cancer, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
The people most at risk are workers who work directly with the hazardous material. Although everyone is exposed to asbestos at some point during their life, normal everyday asbestos exposure levels are too low to cause noticeable health problems. However, when people are exposed to larger levels over a long period of time they can develop asbestos related diseases. As a side note, smokers are more at risk of developing asbestos diseases than non-smokers.
How to Prevent Asbestos Exposure
There are several things a person can do to prevent asbestos exposure. Learning how to recognize asbestos-containing products can alert you to possible dangers. Once a potential asbestos product is discovered, asbestos testing is then performed to determine whether or not the product does indeed contain the hazardous mineral. If asbestos is found, it may be necessary to carry out asbestos removal, but not always. Sometimes the asbestos removal cost can be very expensive, but it’s possible to lower the cost in some cases by encasing or sealing the product instead of removing it. Encasing a product to effectively seal all asbestos inside, preventing their escape, is usually achieved by spraying it with a liquid sealant or painting it.
Symptoms of asbestos exposure don’t normally appear until decades after asbestos exposure, allowing the disease to advance into its later stages and limiting the asbestos exposure treatment options. Plus, the symptoms can mimic other less serious illnesses, making asbestos related diseases difficult to diagnose. If a worker has been exposed to asbestos and then later diagnosed with asbestos cancer or some other form of an asbestos-caused disease, it can be devastating both physically and psychologically. It can also ruin a family financially. Because of this, it is important to see an asbestos attorney as soon as a diagnosis has been made so that an asbestos claim can be filed in a timely manner. Filing asbestos exposure lawsuits can help an injured person get asbestos compensation to pay for medical treatment, loss of wages, as well as financial security for loved ones.