Asbestos are naturally occurring fibrous materials that were traditionally used in buildings and in building materials thanks to the durability against heat, fire and electricity.

However, these microscopic minerals aren’t just a saviour to the world of construction, they’re also very dangerous and a very serious health hazard. Its use has reduced in the past few decades as people and businesses have become more aware of the perilous effects it can have on the human body.

Mesothelioma

With regards to health, Mesothelioma is the affliction that is the most likely, serious effect, of being exposed to asbestos and it can be a deadly cancer that can be developed in the lining of many parts of your inner body.

This occurs when the tiny asbestos fibres become airborne from their materials and are inhaled by whoever is in the close vicinity. The shape of the fibres means its common for the asbestos particles to cling to tissues of the lungs, abdomen, heart and other parts of the respiratory system.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is formed in the thin membrane than protects vital organs in the chest and abdomen and exposure to asbestos is the only medically-verified cause of the disease.

Who is at Risk?

There are plenty of people who may be at risk of being affected by asbestos exposure, it was used in thousands of commercial products and in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of buildings and industrial structures.

Those at the most risk are the manual workers who had to subject themselves to exposure to the raw material day in, day out while they were in the process of building these structures. This is especially so if the workers employed in construction industries were so before 1980.

If you were employed in any of these trades in the past, it may be worth contacting a specialist mesothelioma attorney like Cohen, Placitella and Roth, a law firm in New Jersey, who have experience recovering costs associated with asbestos-related illnesses.

• Blacksmiths
• Carpenters
• Electricians
• Firefights
• Painters
• Pipe Fitters
• Plumbers
• Roofers
• Welders
• HVAC workers

Amongst many, many more.

Talk to Your GP if you Think You May Have Been Exposed

If you think there is any risk you may have been exposed to asbestos, get in touch with your GP and talk to them about any past or present jobs that may have put you at risk, any DIY projects that may have exposed you or even if you’re just living with someone who may have been exposed.

From there, they will be able to document your potential asbestos exposure, speak to you about your symptoms and how to relieve them, as well as assigning possible tests that will secure a diagnosis.

Preventing Asbestos Exposure

Here are a few things you can do to minimise the risk, the best defence is a good offence, so make sure, if there is any chance of a risk, that you are doing all you can to minimise that risk and keep yourself and everyone else safe.

• Monitor the air and record findings
• Provide testing of how to spot asbestos and its effects
• Offer respiratory protection
• Communicate the hazards of asbestos
• Keep surveillance for potential asbestos warnings