Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that serves many useful purposes including acting as an insulator, providing fire protection and preventing corrosion. It can be found in many construction materials and building fittings.
Homeowners should always consider the possibility that their homes may contain asbestos before performing any maintenance, repairs or remodeling work. Only trained and accredited asbestos professionals should sample or remove asbestos-containing materials.
The Use of Asbestos in Buildings
Known as “the hidden killer,” asbestos can harm any person who comes into contact with it. Those working with it, like construction workers or military veterans, are at the highest risk for exposure because of its use in many building products such as shingles, insulation and pipes. When these products are installed, repaired or manipulated, they release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers can then be inhaled and cause damage to the lungs. Inhalation can result in non-malignant diseases like asbestosis or pleural effusions or malignant diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Asbestos was popular in the 1800s until significant medical evidence grew that it caused deadly respiratory illnesses. Despite the warnings, asbestos companies continued to manufacture it until the mid-1980s. This was due to its low cost, durability and fire-resistant properties. The use of asbestos peaked during World War II and the postwar building boom.
During this time, people were exposed to asbestos in their homes, schools and workplaces. Even after the use of asbestos was phased out, it still is found in some buildings. People who work in asbestos-containing buildings or bring home their work clothes and equipment can expose their families to dangerous levels of asbestos. If family members develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, they can file an asbestos lawsuit against the responsible party.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is mined and fabricated into long, thin fibers that are used in a variety of building materials. It is very cheap, fire-resistant, and has good insulating properties. However, asbestos is also dangerous if inhaled.
When disturbed, asbestos breaks down into tiny, airborne fibers that can be inhaled and enter the lungs. The lungs’ natural defenses usually remove these small fibers, but some may bypass the body’s protective mechanisms and lodge deep within the lung tissue. These fibers can lead to asbestosis (a scarring of the lung tissue) and mesothelioma, a type of cancer that attacks the lungs and chest wall lining.
The risk of exposure can be reduced by using proper protective equipment and following the proper work practices and safety procedures when working around asbestos. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the agency in charge of health and safety regulations in most workplaces, can provide more information about these requirements.
Even when these precautions are taken, asbestos exposure is still a real concern. Many older buildings contain asbestos and are deteriorating, and this can release the dangerous fibers into the air. People living in these buildings, and their family members, can be exposed to the dangerous fibers when they walk through areas where asbestos was once used.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare and fatal cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or in the lining of the chest wall, abdomen, or tunica vaginalis. It is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, which consists of tiny fibers that easily get into the lungs and stay there for a long time. It takes decades to develop mesothelioma, and by the time symptoms appear, many people have already died from it.
People with the highest risk for mesothelioma are workers who mined or handled asbestos, shipyard workers, manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, and anyone else whose job involved working with these materials. However, mesothelioma can also occur in people who have secondhand exposure, such as those who live with someone who worked around asbestos and brought the dust home on their clothes or tools.
Although asbestos use was phased out in the United States after significant medical evidence linked it to disease, many buildings built before that time continue to contain it. During renovations, there is a risk that these materials may be disturbed and that asbestos fibers will be released into the air where they can be inhaled. If you have been exposed to asbestos in a building, you should seek medical attention and contact a qualified attorney to learn about filing an asbestos lawsuit for compensation for your illness.
Lung Cancer
People may get an asbestos-related illness without ever directly working with the mineral. Some researchers call this “secondhand exposure.” Workers can bring home asbestos fibers on their clothing, skin and hair from work sites. This kind of exposure can harm family members. Women who launder their husbands’ contaminated work clothes are at particular risk.
When someone inhales airborne asbestos, tiny fibers enter their lungs. These fibers bypass the body’s natural defenses and lodge deep inside the lungs, where they can remain for a long time. This can lead to an abnormal growth of tissue, called malignant pleural mesothelioma, which is a form of lung cancer.
Other kinds of asbestos-related lung problems include scarring in the lungs, or a condition called asbestosis. Exposure to high levels of airborne asbestos over a long period can create scar tissue that interferes with the lungs’ ability to breathe properly.
Asbestos is no longer used in building materials like it once was. But many Americans are still at risk of exposure to the carcinogen, particularly if they worked with it or lived near it in the past. Science correspondent Miles O’Brien explains why U.S. regulation of the substance is broken and why we continue to import asbestos even after it was banned from the workplace. If you’ve worked with asbestos, or if you’re worried about your own or a loved one’s health, see a doctor immediately. Symptoms of exposure include difficulty breathing, fluid buildup in the lungs or chest wall, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss and pain in the rib cage or belly.