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Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once considered beneficial for manufacturing and construction, as asbestos fibers are durable and resistant to chemicals, fire, and electricity. However, it was eventually found that long-term exposure to asbestos fibers can cause harmful health effects, including malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
This realization led to a significant reduction in the use of asbestos materials about 50 years ago. But for hundreds of thousands of people, the damage was already done, since asbestos-related diseases cannot be cured.
If you’re worried about this possible outcome due to a history of asbestos exposure, you should see a doctor to find out if you have an asbestos-related disease. If you do, you should contact Frost Law Firm to discuss your legal options so you can afford the medical care you’ll need.
Should You Worry About Asbestos Exposure?
The concept of asbestos exposure is often scary, since people who don’t even know much about asbestos have at least heard that it can cause serious health risks. So, if you suspect you had any asbestos exposure in the past, it’s a good idea to call your doctor for testing so you can either rule out an asbestos related lung disease or get an official diagnosis.
That said, nearly everyone is exposed to airborne asbestos fibers at some point in life, since so many buildings, vehicles, and products contain them. Simply touching or being near asbestos-containing materials isn’t a health risk, as you must inhale or swallow millions of tiny asbestos fibers to be at risk of asbestos-related diseases.
For example, they might have worked with insulation and other products containing asbestos, or they could have worked in buildings or vehicles featuring asbestos materials. In fact, occupational asbestos exposure is the most common cause of asbestos related lung diseases.
Another way some people may be exposed to asbestos fibers long-term is by living in residential buildings containing asbestos materials or using household asbestos products, such as makeup with asbestos-contaminated talc. Additionally, living with someone who regularly works with asbestos fibers materials can result in secondhand exposure since asbestos dust can stick to contaminated clothing.
Environmental exposure to asbestos can also be harmful. For example, if dirt, water, or mines containing asbestos minerals are disturbed, this can cause the natural asbestos deposits to be released into the air. If anyone living or working nearby regularly inhaled asbestos fibers from this type of environmental exposure, they could end up with long-term health consequences.
Who Is Most At Risk of Occupational Asbestos Exposure?
Most people who end up with asbestos-related illnesses were regularly exposed to asbestos at work. After all, certain industries use asbestos-containing materials daily. Such asbestos products include:
- Insulation
- Ceiling tiles
- Floor tiles
- Cement
- Roof shingles
- Paint
- Drywall
- Vehicle brake pads
- Clutches
- Gaskets
- Building materials
- Construction materials
Anyone who consistently uses these or other asbestos products at work might eventually find they have adverse health effects due to regular asbestos exposure. Some industries with the highest risk factors include the automotive field and the construction and building trades. However, these are not the only industries with a high risk of asbestos exposure. The following skilled workers have an increased risk of occupational exposure to asbestos:
- Firefighters
- Construction workers
- Auto mechanics
- Electricians
- HVAC mechanics
- Aircraft mechanics
- Power plant workers
- Shipyard workers
- Railroad workers
- Steel mill workers
- First responders
- Asbestos plant workers
- Asbestos mining workers
- Members of the military
- Demolition workers
- Oil refinery workers
Now that the dangers of asbestos exposure are known, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide safety equipment to protect workers exposed to asbestos products.
If your employer has ignored these regulations or you were exposed to asbestos at work before the dangers of this toxic mineral were known, contact your doctor to find out if you have an asbestos-related illness. You should then contact Frost Law Firm to learn your legal options so you can hold the at-fault party accountable for any health effects.
Are There Any Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure?
While asbestos exposure can lead to harmful asbestos diseases, these usually take years to develop. So, if you were recently exposed to asbestos fibers, you likely won’t know about any asbestos diseases for a few decades. However, if it’s been several years since your asbestos exposure, the following symptoms could be a sign that you’ve developed an asbestos-related disease:
- Wheezing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Shortness of breath
- A lingering cough that gets worse
- Loss of appetite
- Coughing up blood
- Swelling in the face and neck
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Chest pain
Keep in mind that there are several asbestos-related diseases that affect different parts of the body, so the symptoms can vary. But since asbestos fibers must be inhaled or swallowed to cause health issues, most asbestos-related diseases affect the lung lining.
Permanent lung damage from asbestos exposure usually results from a mesothelioma diagnosis, which causes the symptoms listed here. If you suspect your past asbestos exposure caused you to develop an asbestos-related disease, you should call mesothelioma doctors to get diagnosed.
What Should You Do If You Were Exposed to Asbestos?
If you know or strongly suspect that you had first or secondhand exposure to asbestos fibers, pay attention to any unusual symptoms that have developed in the years since the exposure. If you notice you have a constant cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, and other symptoms of an asbestos-related disease decades after your asbestos exposure, you should let your doctor know.
This way, you can get diagnostic tests done to determine if there is damage to your lung tissue or other organs that asbestos fibers have been known to destroy. If it turns out you have an asbestos disease, it’s essential to know that you can’t cure it, but your doctor may be able to provide treatment options to reduce your symptoms, slow down the progression, and increase your life expectancy.
Of course, the treatment for lung disease and other conditions caused by asbestos exposure can be costly. You shouldn’t have to pay for your medical bills out of your pocket, as you likely didn’t know the dangers of asbestos fibers when you were exposed to them years ago.
The company that caused your asbestos exposure should be financially liable for any treatment you need for your asbestos-related condition. This is why you should talk to lawyers to learn if you can initiate a legal claim to get compensated for the damage done by asbestos exposure.
At Frost Law Firm, our lawyers have seen firsthand how much asbestos exposure can harm people over time, leaving them suffering from painful asbestos-related conditions. If this describes your situation, you deserve compensation to pay for your treatment and lost wages after being permanently affected by asbestos exposure. We can provide the legal assistance you need, so contact us at to discuss your options with our caring team.