Key Takeaways
- Asbestos exposure can occur in three ways: occupational (direct workplace contact), proximity/environmental (being near asbestos that has been released into the air), and secondhand (contact with a family member’s contaminated clothing or body).
- No amount of asbestos exposure is safe. Even breathing in a small amount can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis decades later.
- Asbestos was used extensively in steel mills, construction, auto repair, HVAC, and insulation — any industry that involved heat relied on asbestos for fireproofing and insulation.
- Navy veterans make up a large portion of mesothelioma patients. Asbestos was present throughout Navy ships — in piping, insulation, and infrastructure — and ship overhauls released massive amounts of airborne fibers.
- Mesothelioma has a latency period of 10 to 70 years, meaning symptoms may not appear until decades after the original exposure.
- In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations to pursue an asbestos-related case is two years after diagnosis.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the types of asbestos exposure?
There are three main types:
- Occupational (direct) exposure — working directly with or around asbestos-containing materials in trades like construction, steel mills, auto repair, HVAC, and insulation
- Proximity/environmental exposure — being near asbestos that has been released into the air, such as during ship overhauls, building demolition, or living near contaminated sites
- Secondhand exposure — inhaling asbestos fibers brought home on a family member’s clothing, skin, or hair. Some people have developed mesothelioma from washing a spouse’s dust-covered work clothes.
Which industries had the most asbestos exposure?
Any industry involving high heat relied heavily on asbestos. The most common include:
- Steel mills — asbestos in furnaces, protective equipment, and insulation
- Construction — asbestos in cement, siding, roofing, insulation, and boilers
- Auto repair — asbestos in brake pads, clutches, and gaskets
- HVAC — asbestos in heating systems and ductwork insulation
- Insulation work — direct handling of asbestos-containing insulation
Why are Navy veterans at such high risk?
Navy veterans are disproportionately affected because asbestos was used throughout Navy ships — in piping, insulation, engine rooms, boiler rooms, sleeping quarters, and mess halls. Sailors lived aboard these vessels for extended periods, creating prolonged, unavoidable exposure. Ship overhauls were especially dangerous — they released massive amounts of asbestos into the surrounding air, exposing not just the workers performing the overhaul but anyone in proximity.
What is the latency period for asbestos-related diseases?
The latency period — the time between exposure and symptom onset — can range from 10 to 70 years. This means someone exposed to asbestos in the 1960s or 1970s may only now be experiencing symptoms. The long delay makes it difficult to connect current symptoms to past exposure, which is why documenting your occupational and exposure history is so important.
What is the statute of limitations for mesothelioma in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for pursuing an asbestos-related legal case is two years after diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease. Because of this relatively short window, it is important to consult with an experienced mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after receiving a diagnosis to ensure your legal rights are preserved.
What should I do if I’ve been exposed to asbestos?
If you know or suspect you’ve been exposed to asbestos, tell your doctor about your exposure history — this information can guide monitoring and screening decisions. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation. Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations means acting quickly is important.