(ThyBlackMan.com) Asbestos is a name referring to six minerals occurring naturally in the environment. These minerals are in the form of bundled fibers which are separable into thin threads for industrial and commercial use. The fibers are resistant to fire, chemicals, and hear, and cannot conduct electricity. As a result, asbestos has been widely utilized in many industrial applications. Moreover, asbestos-like minerals can be obtained from the natural environment, including erionite. Since the asbestos minerals are compounds of silicate, they contain both oxygen and silicon atoms in their molecular structure. The minerals forming asbestos are categorized into two: the amphibole and the serpentine asbestos and all these can be harmful to your health.
The Dangers and Health Hazards of Asbestos Exposure
You can easily be exposed to asbestos in your community, at home, or even in your place of work. If you disturb items containing asbestos, you are likely to expose yourself to the tiny asbestos fibers. When you breathe the fibers in, they will be trapped in your lungs and will stay there for quite a long time. As time goes by, their accumulation in your lungs will cause inflammation and scarring, which will result in other serious health complications. Here are some of the health conditions resulting from the exposure to asbestos fiber:
1. Asbestosis
Although it is a non-cancerous respiratory condition, asbestosis can create serious problems for your respiratory system. Inhaled fibers usually aggravate the tissues of the lung and cause them to scar. Asbestosis symptoms and signs include aspects such as dry cracking sound in your lungs and shortness of breath. When severe, asbestosis may result in cardiac failure.
Asbestosis does not have any effective treatment and the disease usually fatal if not disabling. For those who have never worked with asbestos, the risk is minimal as the disease can hardly be caused by family or neighborhood exposure. People who demolish or renovate buildings which contain asbestos are often at a high risk depending on the level of exposure as well as the precautions they take.
2. Mesothelioma
This type of cancer is usually rare and manifests on the thin membrane lining of the chest, lungs, heart, and abdomen. Approximately two-hundred cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States every year with virtually all of them being associated with asbestos exposure. About two percent of employees who are involved in the manufacture of products containing asbestos contract mesothelioma.
In addition to that, people working in asbestos factories and mills, mines, and shipyards which use asbestos, and people who produce and install materials made from asbestos have a higher risk of contracting mesothelioma. This is also the case for people living with asbestos workers, people residing close to asbestos mines, and those living near shipyards where the utilization of asbestos has resulted in the production of airborne asbestos fibers.
3. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the primary causes of death among those exposed to asbestos. Incidents of lung cancer among individuals working in milling, mining, and manufacturing industries and those utilizing asbestos and products relating to it is higher compared to the general population. The most common signs of people suffering from this condition include a change in breathing and coughing. Other symptoms associated with lung cancer include persistent chest pains, shortness of breath, anemia, and hoarseness.
Individuals who are exposed to asbestos and exposed to other various carcinogenic materials like cigarette smoke have a higher risk of suffering from lung cancer as opposed to those who are only exposed to asbestos. According to studies, asbestos workers who are also smokers are ninety times more likely to have lung cancer compared to those who aren’t exposed or those who do not smoke.
Other Types of Cancers
Evidence shows that cancer in the larynx, stomach, esophagus, oral cavity, kidney, and colon could be caused by asbestos ingestion. If you are searching for more information regarding cancer relating to asbestos, you can contact the American Cancer Society.
What if you are exposed?
Currently, there isn’t a lung cancer screening test suitable for people exposed to asbestos, but it’s always advisable to talk to your physician about it. According to a study conducted in 2007, a low-dose CT screening for people working with asbestos may be somewhat as useful in identifying lung cancer during its early stage as it is for people who are addicted to smoking. This is important considering the fact that the 2013 guidelines established that screening individuals with thirty pack-years of smoking could minimize cancer deaths by twenty percent. Therefore, if you have been exposed to asbestos, and if you have been a heavy smoker, you need to talk to your doctor to see what ways they can recommend improving your health.
When Should You Seek Legal Assistance?
Exposure to high levels of asbestos occurs mainly in the place of work. Once you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other condition linked to asbestos exposure, it can be difficult to continue with your work as you used to. Taking care of your health and ensuring you get the best treatment is always a priority. Additionally, financial decisions including how you will pay for your medical bills or even the funeral expenses of a loved one who has succumbed to an illness caused by asbestos exposure can be difficult to make. That is why it is always advisable to seek legal assistance if you believe your condition is as a result of asbestos exposure in your place of work. Selecting a Corpus Christi Mesothelioma Attorney can be one of the best decisions you make as these will let you know about the legal options and financial compensation available to you. Therefore, when you begin to suffer from effects of asbestos exposure in your workplace, or your loved one lost their life due to a condition caused by exposure to asbestos, you can always find a legal professional to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Wrap Up
The above guide offers valuable information regarding asbestos, its risks, and how to seek legal assistance in case of exposure. Understanding the adverse effects of asbestos will help you avoid being exposed to it in the first place.
Staff Writer; Craig Poole
