Asbestos Exposure
You may already know that asbestos is a very dangerous substance, but most people aren’t sure who to avoid exposure. Historically, thousands of jobs put millions of people in contact with asbestos. Today, that’s not the case. However, there are still places where you could be exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos in your Home or Office
Asbestos wasn’t always as regulated as it is today. In fact, this dangerous mineral was once used quite freely, especially in construction. It has all of the qualities that you want in a building material, given that it is inexpensive, lightweight, durable over time, waterproof, and heat resistant. It is flexible enough to be used in various types of cloth, but yet strong enough to be a component in concrete.
If your house was built in the past two decades, you don’t have to worry about asbestos. However, houses built prior to 1980 likely have asbestos used in them in some way. Not only were the construction works put at risk, but homeowners were too – and some still are! The same is true for commercial buildings. Some of the common materials made using asbestos include the following: paint, joint compound, roofing materials, concrete, insulation, plaster, plumbing, and carpet. Before buying a home or doing renovations on an older home, it is important to have the place analyzed for asbestos levels.
Asbestos and Shipping Industries
For the same reasons asbestos was used for building construction, it was also used for building ships. The result, however, has been even more detrimental to health, because the asbestos was used in enclosed spaces. Anyone working on or around ships has been put at risk for asbestos exposure. Today, one of the riskiest asbestos-related jobs is ship renovation and demolition.
Asbestos and the Military
Historically, one of the most dangerous jobs in terms of asbestos exposure is working for the military, especially the Navy, for the same reasons as listed above. Asbestos used on Navy ships peaked during World War II, and today, there are still military personnel being exposed to asbestos. Unlike some of the other companies that used asbestos without telling their employees about the dangers, you can’t sue the Navy or the United States military if you develop mesotheleomia or other asbestos-related problems. However, you can take advantage of some of the medical programs they have from veterans and career military men and women.
Disaster-Related Asbestos
In some historical disasters, thousands or millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos inadvertently. The two most recent mass exposures happen during the World Trade Center terrorist attack and Hurricane Katrina. When the Twin Towers collapsed, experts estimated that over 2,000 tons of asbestos dust filled the air, and people who survived or stayed in the city inhaled this dust in the hours, days, and weeks following that fateful day. Likewise, when Katrina hit the southern United States, many of the homes that were flooded or destroyed contained asbestos, and the exposure is still happening as ruined homes are being demolished.
Other Occupations at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Along with those in the shipping, military, and construction industries, there are a number of other types of jobs that led to asbestos exposure, especially before 1980. If you had any of the following jobs, you could be at risk: firefighters, railroad workers, auto mechanics, machinists, textile mill workers, engineers, power plant workers, custodians, wrecking crews, refinery workers, warehouse workers, and electricians.
If you have worked in any of these industries or otherwise believe that you have been exposed to asbestos, it is important to talk to your doctor right away. The sooner you catch problems dealing with asbestos, like mesotheleomia, the better chance you have of beating the condition. You can also talk to a lawyer about your rights regarding your asbestos exposure. Many companies lied to their employees about asbestos’ dangers, and if that is the case, you may be entitled to money to pay or your medical care, lost wages, and more. Call an asbestos lawyer today to learn more.
