Asbestos Exposure: Health Concerns

Exposure to asbestos can lead to a variety of health concerns and anyone exposed to asbestos should be examined by a doctor immediately even though the effects of asbestos are tough to reverse. Asbestos is a name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos is not affected by the heat or chemicals and asbestos does not conduct electricity whatsoever, making it difficult to detect to the naked eye. There are four types of asbestos that have been used in a variety of industries including shipbuilding, construction, demolition and much more. The four varieties of asbestos used in these industries are chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite and anthophyllite. Chrysotile is used in 90 percent of industry today and consists of curly, flexible, white fibers. Asbestos fiber masses break easily into a dust composed of particles that float throughout the air. Asbestos is swallowed and inhaled by people that live in a building with asbestos or work in a building with asbestos and it can cause serious health problems. Asbestos has been used commercially since the 1800s in Northern America but the use of asbestos increased greatly during the World War II era. The construction industry uses asbestos to strengthen cement, strengthen plastics and is also used for insulation, fireproofing and sound absorption. Asbestos is used in shipbuilding to insulate boilers, steam pipes, hot water pipes, and nuclear reactors in ships. The automobile industry also uses asbestos in vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads.

There are more than 5,000 products used in the country today that contain asbestos, ultimately creating health problems for millions of Americans because of exposure. The use of asbestos was banned by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces for one main reason. These products use to release excessive amounts of asbestos fibers into the environment. Some of the 5,000 products that still use asbestos today are:

• Asbestos cement sheet and pipe products used for water supply and sewage piping, roofing and siding, casings for electrical wires, fire protection material, chemical tanks, electrical switchboards and components, and residential and industrial building materials;
• Friction products, such as clutch facings; brake linings for automobiles, railroad cars, and airplanes; and industrial friction materials;
• Products containing asbestos paper, such as table pads and heat-protective mats, heat and electrical wire insulation, industrial filters for beverages, small appliance components, and underlying material for sheet flooring;
• Asbestos textile products, such as packing components, roofing materials, heat- and fire-resistant clothing, and fireproof draperies; and
• Other products, including ceiling and floor tile; gaskets and packings; paints, coatings, and sealants; caulking and patching tape; and plastics.

Exposure to any type of asbestos can cause numerous health problems for anyone. Health problems that can be caused by asbestos exposure are lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, cancer of the larynx, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and other cancers. There have been recent studies released that show that anyone exposed to asbestos that also smokes has an increased risk of developing health related problems.

• If you think you may have been injured by asbestos exposure, please consult with an Asbestos Lawyer near you to discuss the details of your case. This website is for informational purposes only, and nothing stated here should be taken as legal advice.