Asbestos
Dangers
A
Short History of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Dangers:
Well
over a century ago, asbestos was seen as an ideal building
material, it was an excellent insulator, fireproof, and
relatively inexpensive. During the twentieth century, some
30 million tons of asbestos was used in the construction
of industrial sites, office buildings, schools, shipyards
homes, and everyday items such as ironing boards, dryers,
toasters, and low-density insulation products. Beginning
at the turn of the 20th century, researchers began to see
a correlation between the unusually large numbers of deaths
and lung problems in asbestos mining towns.
In
the 1930's, numerous and well-known medical journals published
scientific studies that linked asbestos to cancer. In 1935,
the American Journal of Cancer published "Pulmonary
Asbestosis: Carcinoma of the Lung in Asbesto-Silicosis."
In 1955, scientists confirmed what they had long suspected;
there was an unmistakable connection between the ingestion
of asbestos fibers and the development of certain forms
of lung cancer (what later came to be known as mesothelioma).
Despite
the growing evidence of asbestos’s health risks, manufacturers
and companies continued its use for many of their projects.
Evidence has shown that these manufacturers were aware of
the potential health risks but chose to ignore them. Since
people who work around asbestos cannot see the fibers, years
of exposure passed without the workers ever knowing they
were surrounded by it. The air they were breathing in was
full of fibers. The fibers are extremely toxic and dangerous
and they “hook” themselves into the lining of
the lungs or other parts of the respiratory tract. Once
in the body the fibers remain there forever since there
is no way to get them out. The long exposure to the asbestos
resulted in illnesses including mesothelioma. These same
companies also ignored using safer alternative materials
like fiberglass that were then being developed.
The
first lawsuits against the manufacturers and companies responsible
for asbestos related cancer were brought to suit in 1929.
Since then, numerous lawsuits have been filed against those
responsible for asbestos use and proliferation. Many of
these cases have resulted in large settlements for victims
and the families of victims of mesothelioma.
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What
is Asbestos?
Asbestos
refers to a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals
whose fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat
and fire. They are long, thin and flexible, allowing them
to be turned into cloth. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that
is extremely toxic when it is inhaled, absorbed, or ingested.
It is found in the ground and is mined all over the world.
Asbestos used to be used as an insulation material.
When
asbestos fibers are taken into the body it can cause ailments
like mesothelioma and many other problems, such as asbestosis
and a number of cancers. Usually extended exposure to asbestos
is needed to develop a problem. When airborne, asbestos
is considered the most dangerous. The lightness of the fibers
allows them to stay airborne for a long period of time and
travel a long distance.
Of
the many forms of asbestos fibers, three are primarily used
for commercial purposes:
- Chrysotile,
or white asbestos, has been very widely used in the US.
It is white-gray in color and found in serpentine rock.
- Amosite
or brown asbestos.
- Crocidolite
or blue asbestos.
Amphibole
asbestos (e.g. amosite and crocidolite) is very dangerous
because of its dusty, needlelike fibers. Individuals that
are exposed to this type of asbestos ingest the dust, which
then becomes trapped in the lungs indefinitely. Over time,
this can lead to asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma.
Asbestos
fibers not often used for commercial purposes include tremolite,
actinolite and anthophyllite. However, these fibers are
occasionally used as contaminants in asbestos-containing
products. If you were exposed to asbestos and would like
to know your legal rights, please contact
us.
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Which
Products Contain(ed) Asbestos?
Asbestos-containing
products are used to contain heat, otherwise known as thermal
insulation. Most insulation materials before the mid-1970s
did contain some degree of asbestos. Countless products
have, at one time or another, contained asbestos, including,
but not limited to, thermal seals, insulating cement, asbestos
cloth, asbestos cement pipe, pipe-covering, refractory and
boiler insulation materials, packing materials, fireproofing
spray, transite board, gaskets, insulating block, joint
compound, duct insulation for heating, vinyl floor tile,
ceiling tile, adhesives, mastics, coatings, roofing products,
acoustical textures, insulated electrical wire and panels,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and brake
and clutch assemblies.
Because
most of the professions that dealt with asbestos-containing
products consisted mainly of men, 80% of the patients with
mesothelioma are male. Many asbestos-containing products
were used in the building, construction, shipbuilding, railroad,
and automotive industries. Any type of exposure to the toxic
mineral will increase a person’s chance for developing
mesothelioma.
Does
Asbestos Still Pose a Health Risk?
Asbestos
continues to be a health risk because it may still be part
of buildings and products that were built decades ago. Asbestos-containing
products may still be in industrial facilities, buildings,
ships, and other structures and products where the fibers
can become airborne. The ingestion of these fibers is the
cause of malignant mesothelioma.
More
importantly, malignant mesothelioma can develop up to 40
years after the initial exposure. The incidence of mesothelioma
rises with the intensity and duration of exposure to asbestos.
Cases have been documented of mesothelioma among people
with very little exposure to the dangerous asbestos fibers.
Many of those who are being diagnosed with mesothelioma
today were unknowingly exposed during their time in the
Navy many years ago.
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Tradesmen
who have a risk of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma include:
- Insulators
(also known as asbestos workers)
- Boilermakers
who constructed boilers filled with insulation
- Plumbers,
pipe fitters, and steamfitters who worked in poorly ventilated
compartments with large quantities of insulation
- Plasterers
- Shipyard
workers and Navy personnel
- Electricians
and mechanics
- Bricklayers,
millwrights, carpenters, etc.
- Steel
workers and refinery and other industrial workers
- Maintenance
workers and laborers
If
you or someone you know has a health risk associated with
asbestos exposure, you’re entitled to know your legal
rights.
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