Asbestos At Work: Common Known Health Risks

What we do not know can kill us occasionally, as has been proven in many types of diseases that were eventually linked to products or production materials, including asbestos at work. Asbestos was discovered to be a valuable insulation material that not only facilitated heating and cooling of businesses and homes, but soundproofing, roofing protection, and safer small appliances. The problem is, it was discovered to be a dangerous substance that, when inhaled in dangerous amounts, can lead to terminal cancer. From a legal standpoint, the well-known risks associated with asbestos use, in light of the failure of many industry leaders to inform homeowners, workers, and others, creates grounds for victims to file suit against liable parties.

Health Dangers of Asbestos

Several diseases have now been associated with dangerous exposure to asbestos. Those diseases include:

Lung cancer

Mesothelioma

Asbestosis

Gastrointestinal cancer

Colorectal cancer

Other abnormalities in the lining of the chest cavity, including thickening and calcification

Most of these diseases can take decades to show symptoms in someone who contracts them as a result of exposure to asbestos, but in some cases, they are dangerous and even deadly. That is the case with mesothelioma. This type of cancer is a direct result of asbestos exposure, and it is considered a fatal disease. However, early diagnosis and treatment may allow victims to live five or more years after diagnosis. Mesothelioma can attack either the lungs or the stomach. There are several common treatments for mesothelioma:

Drugs

Chemotherapy

Radiation

Surgery

Symptoms of this disease and others related to asbestos exposure include:

Difficulty breathing

Coughing

Weight loss

Pain, swelling, and problems in the bowel and abdomen

Other Types of Exposure

While occupational exposure is the most common cause of mesothelioma, some individuals have contracted it in other ways:

Second-hand exposure from near-by factories, shipyards, mines, and mills

Exposure by handling the clothes of family members who are in asbestos-related occupations

Any of these victims may be eligible to obtain compensation from those asbestos-related industries if they can prove that is the source of their illness.

Getting Legal Help with the Health Risks of Asbestos on the Job

Because of the decades between exposure and symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses, it requires a great deal of evidence to prove that causation and win a personal injury claim. That is why it is so important to contact a personal injury attorney to file a claim quickly, within their state’s statute of limitations on such suits.

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