Asbestos has been utilized as a material for building over hundreds of centuries. Asbestos can be dangerous, even fatal as it can cause a multitude of lung diseases. Until recently, asbestos has been utilized by the US Navy in their shipyards as well as for insulation in homes. Employees may receive compensation if exposure to asbestos was due to negligence on the part of the employer. This is because of the increased risk to employees working in industries where they are exposed to asbestos.
Risk Factors
An employee is at a higher risk if they have worked in the asbestos mining industry. It is important to note, that there are a number of workers who have been unknowingly been exposed while on the job. It has been reported that the following type of work has exposed employees to symptoms related to asbestos:
- US Navy Shipyard workers
- Insulators
- Electricians
- Bricklayers
- Roofers
- Building Inspectors
- Plumbers
The above are just a few industries in which workers have been exposed to, and experienced asbestos symptoms. Chances that you’ve been exposed asbestos increase greatly if you have worked in any of the above industries.
Symptoms of Exposure
In most cases, symptoms of asbestos exposure do not always present immediately. Often, symptoms develop over a much longer period of time. Sometimes, symptoms present themselves over time. It can be 10-40 years before people who have been exposed to the mineral experience symptoms.
Asbestos exposure is often identified as difficulty breathing because it is a lung disease. This can lead to a type of cancer known as Mesothelioma cancer. Because symptoms for Mesothelioma often are found within other, common illnesses, it can be difficult for a doctor to identify. Unfortunately, by the time there is an official diagnosis, the cancer has advanced to that of late stage cancer.
Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure
- Dry Cough
- Clubbing (where fingers widen)
- Tightness in the chest
- Shortness of breath
Mesothelioma cancer is another asbestosis-related illness. Symptoms of mesothelioma can include: cough, fever, sore throat, facial swelling and shortness of breath. Because these symptoms are commonly found in other illnesses, mesothelioma can be difficult to detect, which leads to misdiagnosis. By the time there is an officially diagnosis, the cancer has already spread, progressing to stage III or stage IV cancer.
Many people do not know that severe symptoms of asbestos can elevate the risk of developing cancer. It is important to seek the support of a medical professional in order to be screened for all types of asbestos-related exposure. Asbestos abatement should never be remediated by anyone other than a trained professional. Someone who has expertise in working with asbestos safely should be contacted if you suspect asbestos has impacted your home in order to have an asbestos removal Malibu, CA residents can trust.
Thank you to our contributors at Nielsen Environmental for the above information.
