Asbestos Exposure Risks

The risks of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases are much higher for those who service in the military or handle building materials containing asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos workers’ family members and roommates may also be at risk for asbestos-related illnesses. Anybody working in an industry where the use of asbestos is common is at a heightened risk of lung cancer.

Asbestos exposure is a severe threat to public health. If you’ve been exposed to this toxic material and developed an illness as a result, you have rights. A personal injury attorney near you can review your case and explain your legal options. If you pursue legal action, your attorney will be your fiercest advocate throughout the process.

How Does Asbestos Exposure Occur?

Because asbestos fibers are thin and light, they can remain in the air for long periods of time without detection. Many individuals who experienced continuous exposure to these fibers developed serious health complications.

The following are the three most common forms of asbestos exposure:

• Occupational exposure: Many jobs bring workers directly into contact with asbestos, such as contractors, asbestos contractors, and construction workers.
• Paraoccupational exposure: Friends and family members of workers may inhale asbestos fibers carried home on workers’ clothes or in the hair.
• Neighborhood exposure: People who simply live or work near sites with asbestos-containing materials may inhale asbestos fibers.

Sadly, even workers who wear protective equipment are still exposed to certain levels of asbestos. For example, if a contractor pulls up vinyl flooring in a client’s home, the contractor may come into contact with asbestos. The same is true for anybody who works in asbestos removal.

How Much Asbestos Exposure Is Harmful?

Most asbestos-related illnesses take many years to develop. In the typical case, getting sick can take 20 to 50 years. While most people at risk of mesothelioma experience long-term asbestos exposure, that isn’t always the case.

Roger Beale, a man from Welwyn, England, succumbed to mesothelioma from just a few days of cutting pieces of asbestos with a circular saw. Unfortunately, he did so without proper ventilation. He died 46 years after the exposure occurred.

This shows that the risk factors causing asbestosis or other types of asbestos illnesses may be hard to identify. Your attorney must prove that the defendant is responsible for your asbestos exposure. The defendant will argue that something other than asbestos caused your adverse health effects.

Short-Term Effects of Asbestos Exposure

If you know or have reason to believe you experienced a low level of asbestos exposure, you may not suffer any short-term effects. Long-term exposure, however, can cause any of the following:

• Malignant mesothelioma
• Asbestosis
• Lung cancer
• Other asbestos-related diseases

These asbestos diseases don’t always appear for years or decades. The earlier you discover that you’ve come into contact with asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, the better. 

​You must monitor your health and seek medical treatment immediately.  Your doctor can run lung function tests to determine if the asbestos caused damage. They can also run other tests to determine the nature and extent of your illness. If they find a disease, you may have a claim for damages. It depends on the specific facts of your case.

What Exactly Will Your Doctor Look For?

Asbestos exposure can cause multiple health problems. When you see your healthcare professional, they will look for signs that you’ve developed a rare cancer or other asbestos disease.

When you first meet with your doctor, let them know if you’re experiencing any symptoms of lung damage, such as shortness of breath.

Chest X-rays cannot show asbestos fibers, but they can detect early signs of certain lung diseases. Other tests, such as lung function tests and high-resolution CT scans, can also detect lung changes caused by asbestos. These changes are usually not detectable until years after exposure.

Some of the signs that you’ve suffered asbestos exposure include:

• Pleural effusions
• Pleural thickening or the lining of the lungs
• Pleural plaques
• Scarring of the lung tissue

These are all signs of lung disease.

How Do Asbestos Fibers Cause Lung Disease?

Asbestos mineral fibers can cause out-of-control cell growth. Once breathed in, they can also cause lung inflammation and scarring. Sometimes, this causes non-cancerous asbestosis, but even small doses of asbestos fibers can trigger a “wrong turn” as your cells refresh and replicate over the years.

Asbestos Exposure Risks in the Workplace

Millions of American workers encounter asbestos in the workplace. Workers may inhale or inadvertently swallow asbestos particles. This exposure can result in asbestos fibers becoming trapped in the pleura in your lungs and other organs.

When this happens, the employee risks developing an asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that invades the lining of the lungs and other organs.

Many patients with asbestos-related illnesses worked in the following following industries:

• Asbestos mining and milling
• Automobile repair
• Building demolition
• Construction and building trades
• Drywall removal
• Firefighting
• Manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products
• Shipbuilding trades
• Pipe fitting
• Welding

If you work in any of these fields, you should see a doctor regularly to check the status of your lungs. If they discover that you have lung damage, you may have a valid claim for damages.

Where Is Asbestos Found in the Workplace?

Asbestos was especially suitable for materials in the workplace because it’s durable and resistant. However, the nature of the workplace means that asbestos fibers are more likely to be released into the air. Accordingly, workplace materials containing asbestos can pose more of a health risk than similar materials in the home. Everyday workplace items that may have asbestos include:

• Acoustic and soundproofing material
• Boiler insulation material
• Caulking material
• Fire blankets and curtains
• Asbestos insulation
• Laboratory gloves
• Packing material
• Spackling products

Because the adverse health consequences of asbestos exposure often take years or even decades to develop, it may be challenging to determine which workplace items caused a patient to develop asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Employees who have worked in the same workplace for several years will often develop similar symptoms. They are more likely to come into contact with asbestos fibers during their jobs, primarily if they work in shipbuilding.

Workers also put their loved ones at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. They come home in asbestos-contaminated clothes and shoes and transfer the asbestos inside their home.

Exposure to Asbestos and Worker Protections

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the federal agency responsible for protecting workers from asbestos-related illnesses in the workplace. OSHA has developed workplace safety standards for the shipyard, auto manufacturing, and construction industries.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Worker Protection Rule also protects state and local government workers who meet specific requirements. State and local government workers not covered by OSHA Asbestos Standards or a state OSHA plan may qualify.

The Worker Protection Rule protects workers by regulating:

• Workplace practices
• Protective tools and equipment
• Medical exams
• Air monitoring and reporting
• Record keeping

In addition, many state and local governments provide special protections for employees whose work involves asbestos. These protections are often more robust than the federal government’s safeguards.

Asbestos Exposure Risks in the Military

Those who have served in the military may also be at risk for asbestos-related illnesses. During World War II, the government built U.S. military ships with asbestos materials. As a result, many World War II veterans came into contact with asbestos.

In addition, many veterans who served in the following conflicts suffered asbestos exposure:

• Korean War
• Vietnam War
• Gulf War
• Iraq War
• Afghanistan War

In addition, military veterans who worked in building and construction, pipefitting, welding, automotive repair, building demolition, drywall removal, firefighting, asbestos mining and milling, and other industries where asbestos-containing products were used may have an increased risk for asbestos-related conditions as well.

Asbestos in Consumer Products and Household Items

Studies have shown that approximately 3,000 commercial products contain asbestos. The levels of asbestos and the amount contained within each product varies. It is found primarily in appliances but can also appear in toys, talc, and potting soil. Asbestos-containing products include:

• Clothing irons
• Crayons
• Certain textiles
• Brake shoes
• Asbestos paper
• Plastics
• Gaskets
• Adhesives
• Brake pads
• Brake linings
• Hair dryers
• Heavy machinery parts
• Floor tiles
• Chalkboards
• Children’s toys
• Talcum powder
• Talc in cosmetics
• Talc-based baby powders

Asbestos abatement laws prohibit the processing, manufacturing, and importation of most asbestos-containing products today. However, you can find asbestos in products imported into the United States from abroad. Certain consumer advocacy groups regularly test such products for traces of asbestos and publish their findings if there is a potential health hazard associated with them.

Exposure Risks for Family Members and Roommates

Family members and roommates of workers exposed to asbestos may also have a heightened asbestos exposure risk and may develop asbestos-related illnesses.

When an asbestos worker comes home, their clothes and shoes may contain asbestos dust. Asbestos particles may have latched onto their skin and hair. The worker’s family members and roommates may breathe in the asbestos dust.

This exposure is known as para-occupational exposure. To decrease the risk of asbestos exposure, workers must shower and change their clothing and shoes before leaving the workplace.

Can Smokers Sue for Asbestos Exposure?

It’s difficult for smokers to sue for asbestos exposure because it can be impossible to determine the cause of their illness. If someone develops lung cancer, it could be due to several things, including exposure to asbestos materials. Unfortunately, it is just as likely to be caused by smoking.

Talk to a Lawyer About Asbestos Exposure Risks

If you are sick and believe your illness is due to asbestos exposure, you may have a legal claim. First, see a healthcare provider. Then, consider talking to a lawyer.

FindLaw’s directory of asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys can connect you with qualified legal advisors in your area. Select your state or city to review contact and ratings information for local experts. Your search results will also link you to additional details about the attorneys’ experience with asbestos cases. Many attorneys offer free case evaluations.