Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestosis and Mesothelioma

Are you or someone in your family currently being treated for asbestosis or mesothelioma?

What exactly is asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals that can only be identified under a microscope. There are several types of these flexible, fire-resistant fibers. Asbestos was used in the past to strengthen products, as well as provide heat insulation and fire-resistance qualities to those products. In most products, asbestos is combined with a binding material so that it cannot be easily released into the air. For it is when asbestos gets released into the air, that problems occur. Once asbestos becomes airborne, it can be inhaled. Once inhaled, asbestos can remain in the lungs for a long period of time, producing the risk for several health problems that do not show up until many years (even decades) later.

More than 3,000 products which are used today contain asbestos. Many of those products are materials used in: flooring, fireproofing, roofing, heat insulation, and acoustics insulation. Some of the common products which contain asbestos include:

• Building insulation
• Wall and ceiling parts
• Carpet under lays
• Toasters and other household appliances
• Floor tiles
• Hairdryers
• Pot holders and ironing board pads
• Electrical wires
• Furnaces
• Brake pads and linings
• Pipe and duct insulation
• Textured paints, patching, cements, and spackling compounds
• Artificial fireplaces and materials

There have been laws banning the use of asbestos in some products, so just because you have some of the aforementioned products in your house, doesn't mean that you are currently being exposed to asbestos. But, since asbestos can stay in the lungs for such a long period of time, you may have been exposed to asbestos as far back as the 1970s, and are just now experiencing the medical problems that can be caused by asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is rarely used alone, and is usually safe when combined with binding agents. But even when combined with binding agents, sometimes asbestos fibers can become loose and then airborne. Asbestos fibers can be released from materials when these materials are being cut, scraped, filed, sanded, or removed. Remodeling and demolitions of buildings can cause asbestos fibers to be released, as well.

Two of the most common medical problems that asbestos exposure can lead to are asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Asbestosis is a scarring of the lungs that leads to breathing problems and heart failure. Symptoms of asbestosis can show up many years after asbestos exposure has ended. Manifestations rarely occur less than 10 years following the first exposure and are more common after 20 or more years. Those who have the highest risk of contracting asbestosis are workers who have manufactured or used asbestos products. Examples of that would be: mechanics, construction workers, shipyard workers, and electricians. A study in Finland showed that construction workers who worked for 10 years with asbestos products and shipyard workers who worked one year with asbestos products, of those two groups 22% showed signs of asbestosis development.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and the lining of the abdomen. It is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers. The most common victims of mesothelioma are workers who have worked on jobs where they have breathed asbestos. Other victims of mesothelioma are people who have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment without even knowing it. Someone exposed to asbestos for as little as a month can lead to the development of mesothelioma, and they may develop mesothelioma 30 or more years after exposure.

Exposure to asbestos has also been linked to cancer of the stomach, rectum, and intestines.

If you or someone in your family is currently being treated for asbestosis or mesothelioma, the foremost concern is medical treatment. You should consult an attorney in your area, and let him/her review your situation, as quickly as possible.

Please Note
Statutes of limitation may apply and determine how long you have to file a lawsuit. In the case of personal injury litigation, the type of injury as well as the state the injury occurred in are some of the factors used to determine the length of time you have in which to file a lawsuit. Read the statute of limitations in your state.