Until health concerns led to banning some uses of asbestos, companies widely used asbestos materials in the United States. Asbestos is a mineral that withstands heat, electricity, and corrosion. As a result, insulation, construction materials, brakes, and many more products contain it. When materials containing asbestos get disturbed or damaged, tiny asbestos fibers get released into the air and people can inhale or ingest them, contributing to serious health risks.
Asbestos-related disease generally has a long latency period. This means the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases generally appear a long time after someone is exposed to asbestos. As a result, it is often too late for treatment once they have been diagnosed.
If you suffer from a serious health condition caused by asbestos, an experienced asbestos attorney in Chicago can seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other losses.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural mineral composed of soft-flexible fibers. Because asbestos-containing materials are resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion, they were often used in building materials, cement and insulation materials, brakes, electrical parts, plastic, cloth, and more.
During the 20th century, asbestos played a crucial role in the manufacturing of commercial products, posing an occupational asbestos exposure risk to workers in construction, manufacturing, and other blue-collar industries. Despite asbestos bans in over 60 countries, employers in the United States can still use it – provided they follow government regulations.
Types of Asbestos
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1986 recognizes six types of asbestos. This law requires warning labels on asbestos-containing materials that easily crumble, which increases the risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. However, some of these materials can still be found in public buildings, including school buildings, even after the connection was made between asbestos and cancer risk.
The six main types of asbestos fall into type categories and include:
Amphibole
Five types of asbestos belong to the amphibole family. Their straight, sharp structures make them easy to inhale.
- Crocidolite
- Tremolite
- Amosite
- Anthophyllite
- Actinolite
Serpentine
One type of asbestos belongs to the serpentine family: chrysotile asbestos. It has curly fibers and a layered structure.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency have classified each type of asbestos as cancer-causing substances.
An attorney may determine which type of asbestos you were exposed to when you file a claim
Risk Factors Contributing to Asbestos-Related Disease
Its ability to break down into microscopically thin fibers makes asbestos dangerous. These fibers can remain airborne for days after asbestos-containing material is disturbed. While airborne, millions of these microscopic mineral fibers can accumulate in a person’s lung tissue or a membrane lining the body.
Once they become lodged in lung tissue, these fibers can cause several diseases, including lung cancer, the lung disease asbestosis, and a deadly cancer, mesothelioma.
Some factors that determine whether asbestos exposure will cause illness include:
- Dose (how much): The worst exposure happens when the air is visibly cloudy with asbestos dust full of these tiny fibers.
- Duration (how long): If you live or work in a contaminated environment for months or years, you can be at greater risk for asbestos exposure.
- Types of asbestos: Although white asbestos (chrysotile) has been proven dangerous, there is evidence that other types of asbestos can be even more dangerous.
- Genetics: Certain genetic mutations may play a role in asbestos-related diseases.
- Smoking history: People who smoke cigarettes and are exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of lung cancer.
All types of asbestos fibers cause cancer and other fatal diseases, so always avoid inhaling toxic dust. There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. No matter how much asbestos or what kind you were exposed to, it could have harmful health effects.
Occupational Safety and Asbestos Workers
Even with increased awareness and regulatory measures, asbestos exposure continues to pose serious health risks for workers across multiple industries. Certain jobs involve handling materials or working in environments where asbestos fibers are present, significantly elevating the potential for harmful exposure.
Our mesothelioma attorneys are familiar with the various industries and occupations with a high risk of asbestos contact and understand the critical need for robust occupational safety practices to protect workers from the dangers associated with asbestos.
Industries With a Historically High Level of Risk:
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- Mining
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Shipbuilding
- Heavy Industry
- Military Service
- Electricity Generation
Industries Still Considered High Risk:
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- Automotive Repair
- Renovation and Demolition
- Chlor Alkali Production
- Oilfield Brake Block Repair
- Building Materials and Equipment Maintenance
- Sheet Gasket Use
- Firefighting
Avoiding Asbestos Exposure in the Workplace
Preventing asbestos exposure is crucial, especially for workers in high-risk industries. To minimize the risk of asbestos exposure, it is essential to first identify and assess any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) present in the workplace. Conduct thorough inspections and engage certified professionals to locate ACMs, maintaining detailed records to inform future safety measures.
Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is another key component in preventing asbestos inhalation. Workers should wear certified respirators, protective clothing, gloves, and eye protection when handling asbestos materials. Additionally, implementing safe work practices—such as minimizing the disturbance of ACMs, using wet methods to reduce fiber release, and enclosing work areas—can significantly lower the chances of airborne asbestos fibers spreading.
Effective ventilation and air filtration systems, including High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, should be installed and regularly maintained to ensure that any released fibers are promptly removed from the work environment. Regular monitoring and air testing are necessary to assess asbestos fiber concentrations and evaluate the effectiveness of control measures.
By integrating these strategies—thorough identification, proper training, use of PPE, safe handling practices, and ongoing monitoring—employers can create a safer work environment and significantly reduce the health risks associated with asbestos exposure.
Contact your doctor and lawyer for further advice if you’re worried about exposure.
Health Hazards Resulting From Asbestos Exposure
The likelihood of developing asbestos-related diseases increases with exposure. Lung cancer and asbestosis are dose-related diseases, meaning the more asbestos you breathe, the higher your chances of contracting one of these diseases.
In contrast to other asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma can develop from very small amounts of asbestos. In fact, family members of workers in a high-exposure industry who brought the dust home on their clothes have developed mesothelioma. Extensive research has proven that secondhand asbestos exposure can lead to deadly health effects.
In a solid form, asbestos does not cause immediate dangers. However, the fragile mineral frequently breaks, even when carefully handled. Breathing in these microscopic fibers can cause people who inhale them to experience life-threatening complications weeks, months, or even years after the initial exposure.
The following are some conditions caused by asbestos exposure:
- Asbestos-related lung cancer
- Asbestosis
- Diffuse pleural thickening
- Mesothelioma
- Whooping cough
- Kidney failure
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Inflammation of the respiratory system
- Chronic shortness of breath
Asbestos-related diseases have a latency period of between 10 and 40 years. By the time you realize the nature of your illness, your asbestos-related condition may have progressed to where you can slow but not stop it.
Therefore, workers in industries that use asbestos should consult their physicians as soon as possible. A chest X-ray cannot detect asbestos fibers but can detect early signs of asbestos-related lung diseases. Other tests for detecting changes in the lungs include lung scanning and computer-aided tomography (CAT scan). If you plan to file a claim, keep a copy of all medical records.
How Can an Asbestos Lawyer Help You?
Hundreds of thousands of people have filed lawsuits after contracting asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, including people who developed mesothelioma through secondhand exposure. These claims provide much-needed compensation for medical bills and lost income.
The lawyers at our firm understand the importance of educating clients about their cases and providing comprehensive and reliable legal representation. Call us at 312-466-1669 or contact us online to set up your case evaluation today.
