{"id":15763,"date":"2024-01-29T12:12:54","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T18:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/?post_type=blog&p=15763"},"modified":"2024-01-29T12:13:33","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T18:13:33","slug":"environmental-asbestos-risks-beyond-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/asbestos-blog\/environmental-asbestos-risks-beyond-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Asbestos: Risks Beyond the Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you think about asbestos exposure, you probably first imagine someone who was exposed to these dangerous fibers on the job<\/a>. To be sure, that is where most people were exposed, and the damage has been as widespread as it has been heartbreaking. Countless people have wound up with debilitating diseases like mesothelioma<\/a>[1] as a result of ongoing workplace exposure that happened decades ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Asbestos Danger Hasn\u2019t Gone Away<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, exposure at work is only one way<\/a>[2] in which someone may have been harmed by asbestos. There are plenty of other opportunities to be exposed, and in some cases, that exposure can lead to serious illness over the long term. Given the virtually invisible nature of asbestos \u2013 it\u2019s invisible to the naked eye, and it offers no smell or taste for the senses to detect \u2013 plenty of people have been exposed and have no idea that they were ever put at risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll highlight some of the risks that exist for asbestos exposure outside of a working environment. Most of the commercial and industrial settings that led to exposure decades ago have been eliminated, but that doesn\u2019t mean the threat is gone. Understanding the various ways one can be exposed to asbestos will help you understand if there is a possibility that you or a loved one has been put at risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Asbestos?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before getting into some of the existing, ongoing environmental risks of asbestos exposure<\/a>, it\u2019s important to understand what asbestos is and why it can harm people. Asbestos has claimed a lot of headlines over the past few decades, and for good reasons. Most people have at least heard the term asbestos, but many don\u2019t really know what it is or why it is such a threat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Cancer Institute: Every type of asbestos causes cancer and health problems.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Asbestos is an umbrella term comprising a group of naturally occurring minerals that were once prized for their impressive durability and heat resistance. The use of these minerals was widespread at one time, and to be sure, asbestos was able to create or improve many excellent products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tragically, using asbestos so widely also proved to be extremely harmful to humans when released into the air and inhaled. Companies who knew that asbestos was harmful long before the general public continued to use it because of how well it worked and how affordable it was as a raw material. That continued use led to the suffering of millions and many billions being paid in damages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regulated But Not Banned, and Still In Many Buildings and Roads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These days, the use of asbestos is heavily regulated in the United States and many other countries. However, since the health impacts of asbestos take many years to appear, plenty of people are still getting sick from exposure that happened a long time ago. Also, as we will discuss below, environmental exposure is still possible today, so the threat is far from a thing of the past<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ongoing Testing and Monitoring is Vital<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s vital to pay attention to any possible asbestos exposure because of the severity of the illnesses that are associated with it. Conditions like lung cancer and mesothelioma are often fatal, and even in cases that lead to less severe illness, the affected individual often deals with significant pain, difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue, and much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exposure to Naturally Occurring Asbestos<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, asbestos is naturally occurring. Therefore, it makes sense that it is possible for people to be exposed to it out in the \u201creal world,\u201d rather than just in factories and commercial settings. With that being the case, why aren\u2019t more people harmed by asbestos in their daily routine? Fortunately, the vast majority of asbestos that exists in nature is essentially locked away and is not floating around in the air, waiting to be breathed in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asbestos breaks into tiny airborne particles, some microscopic, with no taste or smell.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In order to be harmful, asbestos needs to break free so the fibers can float up into the air. While it\u2019s possible for that to happen through a natural process like erosion, it\u2019s more commonly going to happen as a result of the construction process for something like a new building, or even a road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the heavy machinery starts to break up the earth, it\u2019s entirely possible that asbestos will be released into the air and can be breathed in by those working on the site or spending time in the area. While this type of asbestos exposure is likely better than being exposed inside a building like a factory, inhaling any amount of asbestos is dangerous for human health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Tests and Lab Sampling for Potential Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important for people to be aware that the risk of asbestos exposure exists in a specific area, so they can avoid spending time there, or so preventative measures can be taken to limit the risk. Too many people have been harmed throughout the years already by asbestos and every additional victim is one too many. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asbestos Risks in Renovation and Demolition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most likely way to be exposed to asbestos in the modern world<\/a>[3] is through the process of renovation or demolition of an older building<\/a>[4]. Older buildings are likely to have products in them that contain asbestos, and when those products are disturbed while work is being done, the fibers can be released into the air and the health of everyone in the space will be put at risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n