Many American workers, across a variety of
industries, were exposed to asbestos on the job. As a result, they are
now at risk to develop mesothelioma.
Long considered a miracle material,
asbestos
boasts excellent fire- and heat- resistant properties. This
naturally-occurring mineral, now known to be a human carcinogen
(cancer-causing agent), has a history that dates back to ancient Greece.
Asbestos was used as a building material, even as far back as during
the Roman Empire. Asbestos was a component of fabric that would be used
in clothing and a variety of other textiles.
During the Industrial Revolution, asbestos use grew in factories and other heavy industries throughout the
United States. Asbestos was used not only in factories, but also in
oil refineries,
chemical plants, on railroad cars, and in
shipyards.
Asbestos materials were used to insulate pipes and boilers in steam
locomotives, to line tanks and ovens in refineries, and could be found
literally everywhere aboard the nation’s
ships,
from engine rooms to galleys. As the twentieth century progressed, more
uses for asbestos were found. It was used in the brakes and clutches of
automobiles, insulated America’s new skyscrapers, and was used
extensively in the construction industry, where it was used in
asbestos products like joint compounds, cements, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, siding, stucco, plaster, and much more. Those
workers at risk included any that worked in an asbestos-heavy industry or frequently handled asbestos products.
By the middle of the twentieth century, it became apparent that
asbestos was causing health problems. Asbestos exposure is now known to
cause
mesothelioma.
This asbestos-related cancer can occur when asbestos is inhaled and the
microscopic fibers become lodged within the outer lung tissue layer
known as the mesothelium. This thin layer of cells protects and
lubricates the chest cavity. Asbestos causes a sustained inflammation of
these cells resulting in harmful scar tissue forming on the surface.
This scar tissue lays the foundation for cancerous cells to develop.
Despite knowledge of the health risks posed by asbestos, historical records indicate that many
companies
who used asbestos in their facilities knew that the material was
dangerous, yet continued to allow its use. Over time, as stories of sick
employees became commonplace, the American government began to consider
imposing laws about regulating the use of asbestos.
If you worked at a jobsite where asbestos or asbestos containing products were used, you may be at risk to develop mesothelioma.
Exposure usually occurred at major construction jobsites, in
shipyards, aboard navy vessels, and during construction or renovation of
commercial buildings. People working in the vicinity of boilers and
insulated piping often are at risk. In addition, teachers, students, and
other staff members who work in older school buildings may be at risk
of exposure to asbestos products, such as ceiling or floor tiles.
Equally at risk are families of these workers, as asbestos often was
carried home on clothing.
Military Exposure
Asbestos was used across all branches of the military for many
years. Navy veterans were exposed to high levels of asbestos while
serving on ships (
aircraft carriers,
destroyers,
submarines,
battleships,
warships,
etc.) in the naval fleet as well as in naval shipyards across the
country. Army veterans were exposed to asbestos in buildings on
military installations and while working on military vehicles. Air
Force veterans were exposed while working with military aircraft.
Marine Corps veterans that spent time at sea aboard Navy ships were
exposed to asbestos. All veterans exposed to asbestos have an increased
risk of developing mesothelioma.
Commercial and Industrial Exposure
Many workers and maintenance contractors at industrial and
commercial job sites were subjected to dangerous levels of asbestos on
the job. Asbestos is a known carcinogen and the primary cause of
mesothelioma cancer. The types of jobsites where asbestos exposure
occurred include oil refineries,
power plants,
steel mills
and chemical plants to name a few. They all have “high heat”
environments where the use of fire and heat resistant materials was
required, be it in the construction of the plants or machinery or in
the protective clothing that workers were required to wear in
designated areas (i.e. fire-proof gloves and aprons). Today, even
though the use of asbestos has been banned in the United States, many
existing industrial and commercial structures may still contain a
certain level of asbestos. It is important that appropriate safety
precautions be taken, where necessary, to prevent harmful exposure and
to mitigate the risk of developing mesothelioma.
Commercial Product Exposure
Do-it-yourself home renovation enthusiasts, as well as those who
worked in the construction trade, may have been exposed to asbestos
while working with popular building and construction products. Many of
these products were made with asbestos through the late 1970’s as the
projects they were to be used in required that they be heat and fire
resistant. They included
insulation, roofing material, siding,
joint compound,
ceiling tiles, flooring and more. Unfortunately when any of these
products were cut, sawed filed, or sanded, asbestos fibers were released
into the air. In the majority of cases, those working with the
products did not use appropriate safety precautions because asbestos
companies withheld information about the health hazards of asbestos for
many years. Today, as a result, construction workers and
do-it-yourselfers are at risk for developing mesothelioma or other
asbestos-related diseases.
Second Hand Exposure
Direct, on-the-job asbestos exposure did not affect American workers
alone. Their family members were also at risk of developing an
asbestos-related disease as a result of
second hand asbestos exposure.
This type of exposure occurred when workers brought asbestos fibers
home on their hair, clothing or shoes at the end of the work day. Those
responsible for laundering their work clothes, day in and day out,
were most commonly affected, but even small children who spent time with
their parent before they had a chance to “clean up” from work were
unknowingly placed at risk of developing an asbestos-related illness.
Don't Lose Your Rights to File a Mesothelioma Claim
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statutes of limitations, which allow victims of mesothelioma to file lawsuits. Dont wait until it is too late to protect your rights! Request a
Free Evaluation now if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
