Asbestos is the name given to the set of six naturally-occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties such as its ability to absorb, its strength, and its resistance to fire and heat. In the late nineteenth century, asbestos was used in some products for its heat resistance and in the past was used on electric oven and hotplate wiring for its electrical insulation at high temperatures. Asbestos was also used in buildings for its flame-retardant and insulating properties, tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals.
Now that the dangerous properties of asbestos are known and understood, it is no longer to be used in modern buildings and products that consumers are exposed to. However, since many people work in buildings constructed before the 1970s, toxic asbestos fibers are still in the air and can be inhaled by workers. If you have been exposed to asbestos, it is absolutely necessary to see a medical doctor to be tested for mesothelioma, a very serious form of cancer that attacks the linings of some major organs.
Even if you do not test positive for mesothelioma, you must have regular check-ups because this type of cancer can lie dormant for years, even decades. If you are still working, you must take steps to prevent further inhalation of dangerous asbestos fibers. If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking because cigarette smoke will only make this very dangerous and painful condition worse.
If you or a loved one is suffering from mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace, you may have a valid legal claim. Please contact the Baltimore mesothelioma attorneys at Brown | Kiely, LLP in Baltimore, Maryland today to schedule a no-cost consultation.
