Asbestos
US, Canada and Puerto Rico
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral found in certain rock formations and used in more than 3,000 consumer products from roofing to brake pads. In the 1960s, asbestos-related diseases began to surface among workers who were routinely exposed to the product. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and is now displaying signs of lung disease or digestive system illnesses, please contact the law office of personal injury lawyers Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC.
About Asbestos
Once referred to as the “miracle fiber” because of its many uses, asbestos was inexpensive, abundant and easy to work with. Because it does not burn and does not conduct heat or electricity, the material can be used for anything from pipe insulation and ceiling tiles to fireman’s clothing and furnaces. Asbestos fibers are also durable, flexible and wear-resistant.
There are three kinds of asbestos commonly found in the United States:
- Chrysotile (white asbestos)
- Amosite (brown asbestos)
- Crocidolite (blue asbestos)
Asbestos Health Concerns
Those who worked with asbestos began exhibiting signs of lung disease as far back as the 1960s. These workers were exposed to heavy doses of asbestos fibers on a daily basis, and worked in places like mills, manufacturing facilities and shipyards. By inhaling asbestos fibers for hours at a time on a daily basis, these workers began to develop severe asbestos-related diseases. These include:
- Lung Cancer: Workers who have been exposed to asbestos and also smoke cigarettes are at a much higher risk of developing lung cancer than those who have been exposed only to asbestos. Symptoms include a coughing, shortness of breath, persistent chest pains and hoarseness.
- Mesothelioma: This rare form of cancer typically occurs in the thin membrane lining of your abdomen, chest and lungs. Those who have worked in asbestos mines, mills, factories, and shipyards that use asbestos, and those who manufacture and install asbestos insulation are at the highest risk for developing this disease.
- Asbestosis: This serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease begins with asbestos inhalation that aggravates and ultimately scars your lung tissue. Symptoms include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sound in your lungs as you inhale. Though it is non-cancerous, this disease can be disabling and even fatal.
None of the asbestos-related diseases have early warning symptoms. They are often diagnosed years after the disease has begun to develop, making the prognosis grim.
Asbestos is in the air, water and soil. Because asbestos exposure can lead to cancer, scientists are uncertain what the “safe” level of exposure is. However, asbestos-related illnesses typically occur in those who have been continually exposed to the material for an extended period of time, and who were not properly protected from inhaling these dangerous fibers.
Asbestos-related illnesses are devastating. If you live in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico and have worked around asbestos or had continual exposure to these fibers in another capacity, please contact the asbestos attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC as soon as possible.
