Who Is Most Likely To Be At Risk?

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:00:40 GMT

Nearly everyone is exposed to asbestos at some point during their life. Drinking water may contain asbestos from natural sources, or from asbestoscontaining cement pipes. Asbestos fibers may be released into the air during product use, or home repair and remodeling.

However, most people are not affected from such exposures. People who become ill from asbestos are generally those who are exposed to it on a regular basis; i.e. industrial workers who maintain substantial contact with the material. Health hazards from asbestos fibers have been recognized in workers from shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, demolition work, and automobile brake and clutch repair. Although, there is some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, as exposure to asbestos fibers brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of workers can occur.

Can I File An Asbestos-Related Lawsuit?

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:25:40 GMT

Although the EPA has made regulations to promote protection from asbestos, and organizations such as the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have manufactured respirators for asbestosexposed industrialists to use, workers are still experiencing asbestos related illnesses: as of May 2005, a 32yearold miner, believed to be the youngest person to have contracted the asbestosrelated cancer mesothelioma, has died.

If you feel you have been exposed to high levels of asbestos, notify your employer at once and seek medical testing. Chest xrays can help identify lung changes resulting from asbestos exposure, and asbestos fibers can be measured in urine and blood tests. If it is determined that you do have an asbestosrelated illness, you can contact an attorney to learn of your rights, and to file a lawsuit for injuries sustained. The Statute of Limitations states that anyone can bring an asbestosrelated lawsuit within two years of discovering an asbestosrelated illness, regardless of the last time of exposure. Individuals with asbestosrelated diseases may also qualify for financial help under state workers compensation laws, including medical payments, and damages awarded for wrongful death lawsuits.

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Has The Federal Government Made Regulations To Decrease Asbestos Exposure?

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:08:20 GMT

Yes. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; however, uses established prior to 1989 are still permitted. The EPA has also established regulations that require school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos, and to eliminate or reduce the exposure to occupants by removing the asbestos or having it encased.

The EPA regulations, coupled with widespread public concern about the hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in the U.S. use of asbestos: domestic consumption of asbestos reached approximately 719,000 metric tons in 1973, but it declined to approximately 9,000 metric tons by 2002. The EPA also regulates the release of asbestos from factories during building, demolition, or renovation to monitor the level of asbestos fibers from damaged materials entering the environment.

Is Asbestos Hazardous To Your Health? Can It Cause Diseases?

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:01:56 GMT

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the EPA have determined that asbestos is in fact a human carcinogen, and that breathing high levels of asbestos can increase the risk of lung membrane cancer (mesothelioma), scar tissue in the lungs (asbestosis), and cancers of the stomach, pancreas, and kidneys.

Asbestos fibers break easily into a dust that can float in the air, stick to clothes, and be inhaled or swallowed. These ingested fibers can then become trapped in airways and lung tissue, resulting in lung infections, shortness of breath, coughing of blood, pain in the chest or abdomen, and significant weight loss. Cancers from asbestos typically do not develop immediately but show up after a significant amount of time; the latency period for mesothelioma is often 1530 years.

Research has not determined a safe level of exposure, but it is known that the greater and longer the exposure, the greater the risk of contracting an asbestosrelated disease. However, asbestos is not always an immediate hazard. In fact, if asbestos can be maintained in good condition, it is recommended that it be left alone and periodic surveillance be performed to monitor its condition. It is only when asbestos containing materials are disturbed or damaged that it becomes hazardous.

What Is Asbestos And What Is It Used For?

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:45:53 GMT

Asbestos is a group of fibrous, naturally occurring minerals found in soil and rock that can be separated and spun into long threads. The three most common types of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite. These woven fibers are incredibly strong and are resistant to heat, acid, alkali, and electricity conduction. Due to these characteristics, asbestos is widely used for fire proofing, acoustic and thermal insulation, pipe and vessel insulation, and paper manufacturing, and can be found in ceiling tiles, linoleum, mastic, paint, automobile brake shoes and clutch pads, and structural beams.