The hazardous naturally occurring silicate material, asbestos, was commonly used in the United States and throughout the rest of the world up until about 1980. It was an attractive material to use in many industries of work because it was deemed to be almost fireproof. Its heat resistance, high tensile strength, and relative cheapness compared to other materials caused its continued use for decades. However, asbestos exposure is very dangerous. It can lead to asbestos-related diseases and even cancers, as asbestos is a carcinogen. Although the more asbestos a person inhales tends to increase the chances of developing an asbestos-related disease, no amount of asbestos exposure is safe. Even breathing in a very small amount of asbestos can lead to diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis later in life.
The Latency Period
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. It is very rare, with only about 3,000 cases per year in the United States. When someone breathes in asbestos, they do not experience symptoms right away. This is due to what is known as the “latency period.” After prolonged exposure to asbestos, symptoms do not usually develop until at least 10 years later and in some cases, symptoms can take up to 70 years to develop.
It can be difficult to track back a source of asbestos exposure that was decades earlier, but it is important to do so if you are pursuing a case. An experienced attorney can help a victim of mesothelioma backtrack and determine when and where they were exposed to asbestos.
Common Industries of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was used in many different trades. As previously mentioned, it had qualities that made manufacturers and employers alike want to use it. Any industry that involved heat utilized asbestos to protect workers from that heat. In turn, these workers were subjected to a carcinogen. Many pipes were insulated with asbestos, there was asbestos cement, asbestos siding, asbestos in roofing materials, asbestos in boilers, and more. Common industries associated with asbestos exposure include:
- Steel mill
- Construction
- Auto mechanic
- Heating (HVAC)
- Insulation
Asbestos Exposure in the Navy
Navy Veterans make up a large population of those that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. This is because asbestos was very prominent throughout US Navy ships. Even those not directly working on the ships could be exposed by just sleeping on the ships. The piping throughout the ships was wrapped in asbestos. Another important thing to note is that sometimes the ships would be overhauled. This would result in massive amounts of asbestos being released into the surrounding air. This type of exposure is called proximity exposure. Those who are near asbestos that has been released in the air breathe in that asbestos and could face side effects later in life. Common symptoms of exposure to asbestos are:
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Weight loss
- Fever
Second Hand Asbestos Exposure
Even if you did not work in any of the trades listed above or work in a trade in which you worked directly with asbestos, there is still a risk of being exposed. This risk occurs if a loved one that you are regularly around comes into contact during their work day. Sometimes, people develop mesothelioma and can trace it back to washing a spouse’s clothes that were covered in dust. That dust was asbestos.
There are different ways that asbestos exposure can occur, and it is important to know the symptoms. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations to pursue an asbestos-related case is two years after diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease. If you wish to pursue a case it is important to act right away in order to get the best possible compensation.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma, please call us at (800) 505-6000 or fill out our simple contact form. We want to give you as much information as possible regarding your diagnosis and help you file a claim. We help mesothelioma victims in Pennsylvania.
