The Dangers of Asbestos Exposure
The dangers of asbestos exposure are very serious and can even be life threatening. Even though we are frequently exposed to a tiny, harmless amount of asbestos, the dangers of asbestos exposure come into play when people are exposed to it for a long period of time. For example, many people who worked at construction sites are now feeling the harmful effects of asbestos. Spending years working numerous hours a day breathing in harmful asbestos fibers has resulted in many people who are now suffering from a cancer of the mesothelial lining called mesothelioma.About Asbestos
You may be wondering about asbestos and why it c an be harmful. Long used because of its fire resistant properties, asbestos is actually a group of minerals. When asbestos is broken down into tiny fibers or dust, that's when it becomes very harmful. While asbestos can be found in very small amounts in everyday things like water and air, certain environments can contain a large amount of tiny asbestos fibers. When a person is exposed to asbestos for a long period of time, these hazardous fibers remain in the lungs and can result in cancer and mesothelioma after many years.Asbestos in the Workplace
Asbestos in the workplace may be how many mesothelioma sufferers were exposed to asbestos. Years of working in a place with asbestos, which often was in construction jobs, has now resulted in many people who are sick with mesothelioma, which is cancer of the mesothelial lining that surrounds the lungs and chest cavity. People who worked construction jobs may have unknowingly gone to work each day and been exposed to asbestos.Asbestos in the Home
Asbestos in the home is another way people have been exposed to asbestos. Some houses built all the way until the mid-1980s may have been constructed with materials containing asbestos. For example, since asbestos was thought to be useful as a fire retardant, it was used in ducts, ceilings and vents during home construction. Families lived with asbestos in the home for years without knowing that the effect could possibly be deadly years down the road.Asbestos and Mesothelioma
One possible effect of being exposed to asbestos is mesothelioma, which is a cancer that affects the protective lining of the chest
cavity and lungs called the mesothelial lining. As mesothelioma
progresses, patients endure intense pain and agony, ranging from
terrible chestpains to collapsed lungs to shortness of breath. Around
40 years after being exposed to asbestos for a period of time, people
might start to feel the effects of mesothelioma.
Asbestos and Mesothelioma Attorneys
Mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers are able to talk to those suffering from mesothelioma about their case. An experienced and knowledgeable asbestos and mesothelioma attorney will help both mesothelioma sufferers and their loved ones decide what to do about their situation and whether to pursue legal action.Contact a personal injury lawyer at Christian Hill & Associates about your situation. There's no obligation or cost.
