Asbestos Exposure has rightly been identified as a significant occupational hazard. This is true both during the era when asbestos was commonly used in various materials- but it remains the case today even after asbestos bans and regulations have gone into effect in the United States. Because of this, it’s important to be aware of the various industries at risk of asbestos exposure. Here’s what you need to know.

Asbestos Then and Now

Asbestos has a rich history dating back thousands of years across the world. In simple terms, asbestos is the name given to a family of natural minerals, which the ancient Greeks named asbestos, meaning indestructible or unquenchable.

Noted for its impressive durability properties, asbestos was used early on in human history for fireproofing and other protective applications.

Early on, asbestos was used in pottery and clothing applications for strength and fireproofing qualities. However, those applications quickly expanded over time. Once the Industrial era was underway, more and more applications of asbestos became commonplace, such as mixing it with concrete or spraying it on walls for added resistance and strength.

The Decline of Asbestos Popularity

Despite the applications of this ‘miracle mineral” exposure concerns began to arise, and this once-praised mineral began to decline in popularity in the public sphere. Reports of respiratory illnesses, cancers, and litigation led to further medical research on the effects of asbestos fibers on the human body.

While the asbestos industry tried to suppress and deny the medical research that existed since the 1930s, the truth came to light more and more with each passing year.

Today, asbestos has been identified as a carcinogen to the human body, leading to various cancers in the lungs, larynx, stomach, colon, and ovaries. Even more cancers have been suggested as being caused by asbestos, but these still require more research.

Too Little Too Late

This continual research has prompted various bans on asbestos throughout the world, and most countries that have not exclusively banned asbestos have at least set a range of prohibitions on the use of asbestos in most materials. The process of switching asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) for safer alternatives was slow and steady, but unfortunately, the damage was done. With decades of widespread use in hundreds of products, asbestos was commonly used in all forms of construction, production, the automotive industry, the military, and even in household buildings. Some of the more common industries include:

Construcción– demolition, roofing flooring

Fábricas– insulation, textiles, cement

Fundiciones– steelworkers, ironworkers, electricians

Refinerías– pipe fitting, boilers, gaskets

Astilleros– shipbuilding, firefighting, railroad workers

Mining and Milling- mechanics, brake repair, HVAC

This list only represents a portion of the industries at risk, but the comprehensive nature of this list goes to show just how widespread asbestos use was throughout the world, particularly in Industrial America.

Why Asbestos-Containing Materials are Dangerous

While these industries have moved away from the use of asbestos, the threat still remains. One reason for this has to do with the ban on asbestos usage, beginning in the 1980s. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did in fact ban most uses of asbestos in these industries, but the ban only involved future uses of asbestos. This means that any of these industries that were built prior to the 1980s that have not gone to extensive measures to remove asbestos from buildings still contain asbestos, at least in their structures.

A lot of asbestos is still out there… in buildings, and people’s bodies.

This fact is especially noteworthy because ACMs are not indestructible. While asbestos was used to strengthen materials such as insulation, pipe wrapping, and concrete, the materials themselves are not indestructible. When these materials become damaged from fires, flooding, or wind damage, the materials begin to break apart, exposing deadly asbestos fibers into the air where they can spread, contaminating the surrounding area and putting workers at risk.

Primary and Second-hand Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure is a particularly dangerous phenomenon because it commonly happens without a victim’s knowledge. The tiny exposed asbestos fibers are microscopic, and they do not have a taste or smell. This means that exposure can take place entirely under the radar.

Workers exposed to asbestos may not experience any known symptoms for multiple years, and it is common for asbestos exposure to take multiple decades to surface. This is known as the latency of asbestos exposure. By the time workers experience exposure symptoms, they have already developed a significant asbestos disease or related cancer such as lung cancer or mesotelioma.

Occupational concerns are also not limited to asbestos workers. Since asbestos fibers can spread and contaminate surrounding areas, it’s important to know how this puts other people at risk. Throughout the job site, workers can carry asbestos fibers into other buildings, such as offices. But it doesn’t stop there. Studies show that sharing a household or vehicle with someone who regularly wears asbestos-tainted clothing exposes you to enough asbestos to cause health problems.

Workers who carry asbestos fibers on their clothing or tools can also take those fibers into their homes, putting family members at risk:

“para-occupational refers to cases in which the afflicted individual was not exposed through work, but through a family member who brought asbestos fibers into the home from work, sometimes described as ‘take-home’ exposure.”

Secondary Exposure, More Common Than You Think

Unfortunately, this is not a hypothetical risk. In fact, many cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses have been developed later in life by children of asbestos workers who never set foot on the job site. It was only determined much later in life that they were exposed to asbestos in their home due to take-home asbestos contamination.

Asbestos Doesn’t Play Favorites

Despite how someone is exposed to asbestos, whether on the job, in the home, or abroad, the outcome can be the same. As long as asbestos fibers find their way into the human body, disease is a common risk factor. This means that the same kind of diseases can be contracted from adults and children alike, even if they are developed later in life. This phenomenon is known as secondary or exposición de segunda mano.

Compensation for all Forms of Exposure

Despite the pervasive nature of asbestos through all types of occupational exposure, the good news is that compensation options exist. You do not have to have an occupational history of asbestos to qualify for compensation to treat an asbestos-related illness. In fact, many claims are related to secondary exposure.

No Need to Appear in Court

Further, all types of asbestos-related diseases may be eligible for compensation. Even non-cancerous forms of asbestos illnesses such as asbestosis, pleural plaques or COPD can be developed from asbestos exposure, and there is no hierarchy for qualifying based on how severe an asbestos illness is, compared to others. Instead, qualification is based on identifying the source of asbestos exposure, how exposure took place, and whether the industry is liable for providing compensation.

This process does not have to result in a trial, however. Since the asbestos industry was aware of the widespread future litigation coming down the road, many companies formed asbestos trusts to secure financial compensation for victims. Filing for an asbestos trust claim can result in receiving much-needed compensation without appearing in court, securing expert witness testimonies, or following the commonly long litigation timeline associated with cases.

Determining what types of compensation you are eligible for can be an overwhelming process, but that’s where a professional asbestos attorney can help. An expert asbestos attorney can help you each step of the way, entirely risk-free, so be sure to reach out today to know your options.