Asbestos Exposure: Where It Happens & Who's at Risk
Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testes. It also causes lung, ovarian and laryngeal cancers, and asbestosis, pleural thickening and pleural effusions. Tell your doctor if you have a history of asbestos exposure.
Expertise
Mr. Wasserberg is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer. He is often a featured speaker at industry summits and gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar. He is recognized by both his peers and his adversaries and is considered one of the nation’s premier mesothelioma and negligence attorneys
Content written by Dan Wasserberg
- Expertise
Mr. Wasserberg is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer. He is often a featured speaker at industry summits and gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar. He is recognized by both his peers and his adversaries and is considered one of the nation’s premier mesothelioma and negligence attorneys
Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney
How Asbestos Exposure Happens
Asbestos exposure happens when materials that contain asbestos are worn over time or disturbed during renovation, maintenance, fire or demolition. While asbestos use is now heavily restricted, it’s not fully banned in the U.S. There also continues to be a risk of exposure from legacy asbestos in older buildings and products.
Common Ways People Face Asbestos Exposure
- Consumer products: For many years, asbestos was a common component of many household items. This includes home insulation, automotive parts (brakes), vinyl flooring and talc-based powders. If you live in an older home or own vintage items, many of these products might still contain asbestos.
- Environmental exposure: Some communities in the U.S. are located near natural asbestos deposits, old mines or processing plants. In these areas, fibers can be present in the air, soil or water.
- Military service: The military historically used asbestos heavily for its fireproofing qualities. It was in ships, vehicles, barracks and family housing on bases. Veterans, especially those in the Navy, are one of the groups with higher rates of asbestos-related diseases.
- Secondary exposure: Many people were exposed without ever working around asbestos themselves. This happened when workers unknowingly brought fibers home to their families on their clothing, skin or hair. Family members who laundered work clothes were sometimes exposed this way.
- Worksites: Workers in construction, manufacturing, power plants and shipyards historically handled asbestos products daily. This is one of the most common ways people are exposed.
This releases tiny microfibers into the air that can be breathed in. These fibers are so small you can’t see, smell or taste them. Once they’re in your lungs or abdomen, they can stay there for years and may eventually result in serious health problems like mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer. Experts agree there is no safe level of exposure.
Who Is Most Likely to Be Exposed to Asbestos?
Anyone can come into contact with asbestos in various situations. But specific jobs and industries put some people at a much higher and more consistent risk. If you or a loved one have worked in these fields, it’s important to share that history with your doctor, who may recommend regular screenings or asbestos-related conditions.
People Who Face Higher Risk of Exposure
- Asbestos miners and processors: People who mined and handled raw asbestos experienced some of the highest exposure levels.
- Construction and demolition workers: Trades like insulation, plumbing, electrical and demolition often disturb old asbestos materials, releasing fibers.
- Family members of workers: People who share a household with high-risk workers were exposed when fibers on clothing and tools were accidentally brought home.
- First responders: Firefighters and emergency workers can be exposed when they enter older, damaged buildings where asbestos is present.
- Manufacturing workers: People who worked in factories making asbestos products like insulation or brake pads faced daily exposure.
- Military veterans: Veterans who served between the 1930s and early 1980s, particularly in the Navy, often faced heavy exposure as part of their regular duties. Legacy asbestos remains a risk.
- Power plant workers: Asbestos was used to insulate high-heat equipment like pipes and boilers in power plants.
- Shipyard workers: Building and repairing ships involved constant work with asbestos, making this one of the higher-risk jobs.
Your risk of developing an illness often depends on how long and how often you were exposed. Cancers like mesothelioma have what’s known as a dose response relationship. This means the heavier and longer the asbestos exposure, the higher the risk of developing the disease. No amount of asbestos is safe, but for those who worked in poorly ventilated spaces like boiler rooms with little or no personal protective equipment over the course of many years are among those with the highest risk.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
Asbestos exposure is linked to several serious health conditions including cancers like mesothelioma and ovarian cancers. It’s important to know that these diseases can take 20 to 60 years after the first exposure to experience any symptoms.
Diseases Linked to Asbestos
- Asbestosis: Scarring from asbestos fibers can cause this long-term lung condition that makes it harder to breathe over time.
- Laryngeal cancer: This cancer of the voice box has been directly linked to asbestos exposure.
- Lung cancer: Tumors form in the lungs. It’s the most common asbestos-related cancer.
- Mesothelioma: This rare cancer forms on the lining around the lungs or abdomen. Asbestos almost exclusively causes this cancer.
- Ovarian cancer: Research has confirmed asbestos fibers can reach the ovaries and contribute to cancer.
- Pleural disease: Non-cancerous changes to the lining of the lungs, such as thickening or fluid buildup. These conditions can be a sign of past exposure.
While mesothelioma is the disease most closely linked to asbestos, awareness of the risk of ovarian cancer from asbestos-contaminated talc is growing. Recent National Institutes of Health research found a positive association between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Talc can become contaminated with asbestos during mining, potentially contaminating talc-based powders and cosmetics, leading to ovarian and mesothelioma cancers.
What Should I Do If I Was Exposed to Asbestos?
Learning about a past asbestos exposure can feel overwhelming. You might be worried about what this means for your health. The best thing you can do is take some simple, proactive steps. You have options, and there are people who can help you understand them.
Steps to Protect Your Health and Legal Rights
- Talk to your doctor: This is the most important step. Tell your doctor about your exposure history. Be specific about where you worked and for how long. They can assess your risk and decide if any monitoring is needed.
- Write down your history: Take some time to document what you remember. Include the names of companies you worked for, the years you were there and the types of products you used. This record can be very helpful for your doctor and for legal purposes later on.
- Consider screenings and monitoring: If your exposure was significant, your doctor might suggest regular screenings. These can help catch any potential issues early, when treatment may be more effective.
- Talk to a lawyer about your options: If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, you should speak with a lawyer who handles these cases as soon as possible. They can explain your legal options and help your family understand if you qualify for compensation.
A one-time minor exposure in a well-ventilated space is very different from repeated exposure over many years at a job. The goal here isn’t to cause panic, but to help you take informed, positive steps for your health and your future.
Asbestos Exposure FAQs
How do I know if I was exposed to asbestos?
Most people learn about their exposure when looking back at their work history. If you worked in construction, shipyards, auto repair or the military before the 1980s, or if you lived with someone who did, it’s possible you were exposed.
Is there a safe level of asbestos exposure?
Health experts agree that there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. While higher and longer exposures increase risk, any exposure carries some level of risk.
How long after exposure does mesothelioma develop?
Mesothelioma has a very long latency period. It can take 20 to 60 years after the first exposure for the disease to develop. This long gap is why many people are diagnosed decades after their time in the military, working in an asbestos mine or working in an industrial job.
Can you be exposed to asbestos in your home?
If materials containing asbestos are disturbed in an older home, you may be exposed. Asbestos is often found in products in older homes including attic insulation, floor tiles and pipe wrapping. If these materials are in good condition and left alone, they usually don't pose a threat. The risk comes when you sand, cut or demolish them during a renovation.
Does asbestos still exist in products sold today?
Asbestos can be found in some antique or vintage items. And it isn’t completely banned in the U.S. It can still be found in some imported products and certain materials, though its use is much less common than it was in the past.
If I was exposed to asbestos, will I definitely get cancer?
Millions of people have been exposed to asbestos since its use in products, but only a small percentage develop an asbestos-related cancer. Your personal risk depends on many factors, including how much and how often you were exposed. The important thing is to be aware of your history, monitor your health, and talk to a doctor if you have concerns.
AVAILABLE 24/7
Get Your Free Case Review
Notable Results
$32,000,000+
Asbestos Exposure Verdict
$5,100,000+
Mesothelioma Settlement
$4,000,000+
Mesothelioma Settlement
Mesothelioma Related Cases
related Mesothelioma cases by Meirowitz & Wasserberg
Mesothelioma cases handled by Attorneys at Meirowitz & Wasserberg
Asbestos related cases by Meirowitz & Wasserberg
