Asbestos Exposure
Unfortunately, exposure to asbestos occurs in an array of places. Even today, many people are still being exposed to asbestos through old buildings and houses that were built prior to the early 1980s. However, the majority of asbestos-related diseases stem from prolonged exposure which typically happened at job sites.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible for considerable compensation. With more than $30 billion currently available in asbestos trust funds, now is the time to take the first steps in determining what you may be eligible for. We invite you to fill out our contact form today to get free brochures from the top mesothelioma lawyers in your area. For more than 20 years, we’ve been helping families successfully connect with the best mesothelioma attorneys.
Shipyards
Since asbestos has a strong ability to prevent corrosion even in high temperatures, it was frequently used to build ships. From boiler insulation, hot water, pipes, and more, asbestos was used for a variety of reasons on ships, and in many times in areas that were not well ventilated. The end result is that thousands of ship workers have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. The highest majority of victims are those who were on ships during the Korean War and World War II. During that time, doctors and scientists were uninformed of the devastating effects that asbestos exposure caused. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the dangers of asbestos were thoroughly investigated and taken more seriously.
Most ship workers exposed to asbestos have been Americans. Over 4 million Americans worked on ships during the World War II era and many of them worked as asbestos insulators.
California is the leading state for the most diagnosed cases of asbestos cancer. Along with having an overabundance of natural asbestos deposits in the state, California is also one of the largest coastlines in North America, making it a convenient place to have an array of shipyards.
Power Plants
Asbestos was frequently used in power plants because of its ability to endure extremely high temperatures while preventing fires. It was used to cover an array of machinery, pipes, boilers, and other products. This continued on through the early 1980s even though the dangerous effects of asbestos was already well-known. Many power plant workers chose to wear protective gear and clothing to help avoid too much exposure, but even with protection, total asbestos exposure was unavoidable. Unfortunately, there were several major power plants that used asbestos spread throughout almost every state in the United States.
Metal Works Industry
Asbestos was used widely in factory machines because of its fireproof insulation. As a result, many welders, steel mill employees, blacksmiths, and aluminum and iron factory employees experienced prolonged exposure. In addition to factory machines using asbestos, most plants were made using asbestos, as well as many of the products that employees used. Metal workers would typically spend several hours per day working in plants and factories that were covered in asbestos. In turn, these workers have a heightened risk of developing mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
Schools and Homes
According the the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are over 130,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in the United States that contain asbestos. Since the typical age of a school building is over 40 years old, millions of children and teachers are exposed each year to a slight amount of asbestos. Only schools built after the late 1970s are asbestos-free.
Today, schools must be inspected every three years in order to develop an effective management plan for asbestos exposure. However, per the National Center for Health Statistics, school teachers, specifically elementary school teachers, run a risk of developing mesothelioma.
Older homes built prior to the early 1980s may contain excessive amounts of asbestos. Prior to the EPA’s regulations, numerous manufacturers and companies used asbestos heavily in insulation, ceiling tiles, vinyl flooring, appliances, caulking, window seals, walls, paints, and more. Millions of homes across the nation that were built with asbestos-containing materials are still occupied by families. It’s extremely important to seek the help of a state-certified asbestos inspector if you live in an older home, as asbestos fibers cannot be detected by the human eye. Until then, make sure to never start any renovations or heavy-duty cleaning projects as these activities can stir up asbestos fibers.
Oil Refineries
Not only do oil refinery workers face occupational hazards because of the highly flammable materials used, but many workers had to also face prolonged asbestos exposure. Prior to the latter portion of the 1970s, asbestos was used to insulate a multitude of things in oil refineries, ranging from ovens, roasters, tanks, boilers, furnaces, pumps, and more. Oil refinery workers were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis, and although it helped them to prevent fires and burns, it also severely affected their health.
Although many oil refinery employers knew of the dangers of asbestos, workers were still exposed daily until a law mandated in the United States in the late 1970s eliminated its use. However, by that time, the majority of damage had been done, and many workers now face an array of mesothelioma symptoms due to their prolonged exposure.
Paper Mills
The paper manufacturing industry has long used asbestos-containing materials in paper mills. These facilities, especially older paper mills, are full of equipment that generates high temperatures or requires friction-reducing materials. Asbestos-containing materials are still used in paper-manufacturing machinery, such as drying machines.
Older paper mills also used asbestos in insulation in boilers and pipes. In addition, these mills were built with cement, paint, ceiling and floor tiles, roofing materials, countertops, and siding which contained asbestos.
Second-Hand Asbestos Exposure
Occupational and direct environmental exposure to asbestos are the principal means in which the toxic fibers enter the body and trigger asbestos-related illnesses. However, people can be exposed to asbestos in other ways, usually through second-hand exposure, also known as secondary exposure.
In contrast to occupational exposure, which tends to affect male workers who were employed in shipyards, power plants, and other enterprises that used asbestos in large quantities, second-hand exposure is more prevalent in women and children.
Secondary exposure generally occurred when men returned home from work in industrial job sites or other places where asbestos exposure took place and brought the fibers along on their work clothes. Consequently, women who came in contact with the asbestos-covered clothes while cleaning or handling them created small clouds of the fibers and inhaled them.
Children were also exposed to asbestos fibers when they hugged or played with their fathers, brothers, or family friends who unwittingly brought asbestos fibers home on their coveralls or other clothing worn for work.
Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure
Symptoms of asbestos exposure may differ according to what part of the body the asbestos fibers have attacked.
Pleural exposure is the most common area, with symptoms consisting of:
Coughing and hacking, usually with phlegm
Strong feelings of the chest tightening
Wheezing
Difficulty in breathing
Pneumonia (in some cases)
Weight loss
Crackling noises in the lungs when inhaling
Peritoneal symptoms of asbestos exposure include:
Abdominal pain
Weight loss
Blood clotting
Swelling in the abdominal area
Anemia
Bowel blockage
Getting Legal Help
Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, you may qualify for significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our contact form today to get free brochures from the top mesothelioma lawyers in your area. If you need additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-694-4856.
Unfortunately, exposure to asbestos occurs in an array of places. Even today, many people are still being exposed to asbestos through old buildings and houses that were built prior to the early 1980s. However, the majority of asbestos-related diseases stem from prolonged exposure which typically happened at job sites.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible for considerable compensation. With more than $30 billion currently available in asbestos trust funds, now is the time to take the first steps in determining what you may be eligible for. We invite you to fill out our contact form today to get free brochures from the top mesothelioma lawyers in your area. For more than 20 years, we’ve been helping families successfully connect with the best mesothelioma attorneys.
Shipyards
Since asbestos has a strong ability to prevent corrosion even in high temperatures, it was frequently used to build ships. From boiler insulation, hot water, pipes, and more, asbestos was used for a variety of reasons on ships, and in many times in areas that were not well ventilated. The end result is that thousands of ship workers have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. The highest majority of victims are those who were on ships during the Korean War and World War II. During that time, doctors and scientists were uninformed of the devastating effects that asbestos exposure caused. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the dangers of asbestos were thoroughly investigated and taken more seriously.
Most ship workers exposed to asbestos have been Americans. Over 4 million Americans worked on ships during the World War II era and many of them worked as asbestos insulators.
California is the leading state for the most diagnosed cases of asbestos cancer. Along with having an overabundance of natural asbestos deposits in the state, California is also one of the largest coastlines in North America, making it a convenient place to have an array of shipyards.
Power Plants
Asbestos was frequently used in power plants because of its ability to endure extremely high temperatures while preventing fires. It was used to cover an array of machinery, pipes, boilers, and other products. This continued on through the early 1980s even though the dangerous effects of asbestos was already well-known. Many power plant workers chose to wear protective gear and clothing to help avoid too much exposure, but even with protection, total asbestos exposure was unavoidable. Unfortunately, there were several major power plants that used asbestos spread throughout almost every state in the United States.
Metal Works Industry
Asbestos was used widely in factory machines because of its fireproof insulation. As a result, many welders, steel mill employees, blacksmiths, and aluminum and iron factory employees experienced prolonged exposure. In addition to factory machines using asbestos, most plants were made using asbestos, as well as many of the products that employees used. Metal workers would typically spend several hours per day working in plants and factories that were covered in asbestos. In turn, these workers have a heightened risk of developing mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
Schools and Homes
According the the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are over 130,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in the United States that contain asbestos. Since the typical age of a school building is over 40 years old, millions of children and teachers are exposed each year to a slight amount of asbestos. Only schools built after the late 1970s are asbestos-free.
Today, schools must be inspected every three years in order to develop an effective management plan for asbestos exposure. However, per the National Center for Health Statistics, school teachers, specifically elementary school teachers, run a risk of developing mesothelioma.
Older homes built prior to the early 1980s may contain excessive amounts of asbestos. Prior to the EPA’s regulations, numerous manufacturers and companies used asbestos heavily in insulation, ceiling tiles, vinyl flooring, appliances, caulking, window seals, walls, paints, and more. Millions of homes across the nation that were built with asbestos-containing materials are still occupied by families. It’s extremely important to seek the help of a state-certified asbestos inspector if you live in an older home, as asbestos fibers cannot be detected by the human eye. Until then, make sure to never start any renovations or heavy-duty cleaning projects as these activities can stir up asbestos fibers.
Oil Refineries
Not only do oil refinery workers face occupational hazards because of the highly flammable materials used, but many workers had to also face prolonged asbestos exposure. Prior to the latter portion of the 1970s, asbestos was used to insulate a multitude of things in oil refineries, ranging from ovens, roasters, tanks, boilers, furnaces, pumps, and more. Oil refinery workers were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis, and although it helped them to prevent fires and burns, it also severely affected their health.
Although many oil refinery employers knew of the dangers of asbestos, workers were still exposed daily until a law mandated in the United States in the late 1970s eliminated its use. However, by that time, the majority of damage had been done, and many workers now face an array of mesothelioma symptoms due to their prolonged exposure.
Paper Mills
The paper manufacturing industry has long used asbestos-containing materials in paper mills. These facilities, especially older paper mills, are full of equipment that generates high temperatures or requires friction-reducing materials. Asbestos-containing materials are still used in paper-manufacturing machinery, such as drying machines.
Older paper mills also used asbestos in insulation in boilers and pipes. In addition, these mills were built with cement, paint, ceiling and floor tiles, roofing materials, countertops, and siding which contained asbestos.
Second-Hand Asbestos Exposure
Occupational and direct environmental exposure to asbestos are the principal means in which the toxic fibers enter the body and trigger asbestos-related illnesses. However, people can be exposed to asbestos in other ways, usually through second-hand exposure, also known as secondary exposure.
In contrast to occupational exposure, which tends to affect male workers who were employed in shipyards, power plants, and other enterprises that used asbestos in large quantities, second-hand exposure is more prevalent in women and children.
Secondary exposure generally occurred when men returned home from work in industrial job sites or other places where asbestos exposure took place and brought the fibers along on their work clothes. Consequently, women who came in contact with the asbestos-covered clothes while cleaning or handling them created small clouds of the fibers and inhaled them.
Children were also exposed to asbestos fibers when they hugged or played with their fathers, brothers, or family friends who unwittingly brought asbestos fibers home on their coveralls or other clothing worn for work.
Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure
Symptoms of asbestos exposure may differ according to what part of the body the asbestos fibers have attacked.
Pleural exposure is the most common area, with symptoms consisting of:
Coughing and hacking, usually with phlegm
Strong feelings of the chest tightening
Wheezing
Difficulty in breathing
Pneumonia (in some cases)
Weight loss
Crackling noises in the lungs when inhaling
Peritoneal symptoms of asbestos exposure include:
Abdominal pain
Weight loss
Blood clotting
Swelling in the abdominal area
Anemia
Bowel blockage
Getting Legal Help
Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, you may qualify for significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our contact form today to get free brochures from the top mesothelioma lawyers in your area. If you need additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-694-4856.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий