Asbestos exposure occurred more often in the past, but some people are still at risk today. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases. There is no safe level of exposure to this harmful mineral.
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals known for their heat resistance, strength, and insulating properties. It was widely used in construction, manufacturing, and various industries throughout the 20th century in products like insulation, roofing materials, floor tiles, and brake linings. Its durability and affordability made it a popular choice, but its health risks were not fully understood until later.
Common Products Containing Asbestos
Asbestos found its way into a myriad of products, spanning from household items to industrial components. Here’s a closer look at the products that commonly contained this mineral:
- Household Items: Many vintage appliances and items, such as hair dryers, ovens, toasters, ironing boards, and oven mitts, may still pose a risk of asbestos contamination.
- Building Materials: Structures built before the 1980s, including military and public buildings, often contain asbestos in insulation, drywall, ceiling and floor tiles, cement, paint, and textiles.
- Automotive and Machinery Parts: Asbestos was extensively used in friction products like brakes and clutches, impacting automotive parts, airplanes, trains, and other machinery.
- Contaminated Talc Products: Asbestos-contaminated talc has been found in products like baby powder, makeup, and various children’s items, raising concerns over exposure risks.
By understanding the variety of products that once contained asbestos, we gain insight into potential exposure risks in both past and present contexts.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, now is the time to take the first steps in determining what you may be eligible for. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more.
What Is Asbestos and Asbestos Exposure?
Asbestos is a natural mineral that has long been mined and used as an insulator and for other purposes. The heaviest use of asbestos in modern times was in the middle of the 20th century. It was used in construction, shipbuilding, and many industrial workplaces.
Asbestos exposure occurs when someone breathes in or ingests the small fibers that asbestos materials consist of. Asbestos exposure is harmful and increases the risk of cancers like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other illnesses.
Key Facts About Asbestos Exposure
- On-the-job exposure is the most common: This typically affects construction, military, industrial, and first responder workers who are at high risk.
- Construction industry risk: The construction industry has the highest exposure rate in the U.S., making it a significant area of concern.
- Airborne fibers: Asbestos can become airborne if disturbed because it’s so light, posing a risk to anyone nearby.
- Fiber settlement: Asbestos fibers may take up to 48 to 72 hours to settle in an undisturbed environment, highlighting the persistence of exposure risk.
How Easy Is It to Be Exposed to Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals known for their heat resistance, strength, and insulating properties. It was widely used in construction, manufacturing, and various industries throughout the 20th century in products like insulation, roofing materials, floor tiles, and brake linings. Its durability and affordability made it a popular choice, but its health risks were not fully understood until later.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral, which means it breaks apart easily. The tiny fibers released when asbestos is disturbed or deteriorating become part of the dust in the air and on surfaces. Anyone in the area can be exposed without proper containment or safety gear.
How Common Is Asbestos Exposure?
Most harmful exposure to asbestos occurred in the past and in workplaces. Risks of exposure today are much less but still possible. When asbestos materials are intact, contained, and undisturbed, they pose little risk of exposure.
People living in older homes, working in older buildings, or working in industries that still contain some asbestos are more likely to be exposed today.
What Are the Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure?
Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health problems, including asbestosis (lung scarring), mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lung lining), and lung cancer. These conditions often develop decades after exposure. Inhaling asbestos fibers is particularly dangerous because they can become trapped in the lungs, causing inflammation and long-term damage.
How Many People Exposed to Asbestos Get Sick?
While there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, most people exposed do not get sick. Those who do get sick often develop life-threatening illnesses. There is no way to tell who will get an asbestos illness and who won’t.
Known risk factors for asbestos illnesses include:
- Repeated, prolonged, and heavy exposure to asbestos
- Working in an industry that used asbestos
- Being male and older
- A family history of mesothelioma
Smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer after asbestos exposure. Smoking does not seem to impact the development of mesothelioma.
Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health problems, including asbestosis (lung scarring), mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lung lining), and lung cancer. These conditions often develop decades after exposure. Inhaling asbestos fibers is particularly dangerous because they can become trapped in the lungs, causing inflammation and long-term damage.
Researchers believe these fibers can reach different organs and cause scarring, which leads to DNA damage—a critical step in the development of cancer. Over time, this DNA damage disrupts normal cell function, eventually leading to the uncontrolled cell growth characteristic of cancer.
Understanding the pathway from inhalation to disease underscores the importance of minimizing asbestos exposure. By preventing fibers from entering the body, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing these serious health conditions.
Know where asbestos is, so you can protect yourself and your family from it. If you suspect you have asbestos in your home, hire a licensed asbestos professional to inspect and test the materials.
If asbestos materials in the home are contained and unlikely to be disturbed, there is minimal risk in leaving it alone. If it poses a risk, a licensed abatement company can safely remove it.
Workplace exposure to asbestos is much less common today, but still possible. Employers are obligated to follow safety guidelines to keep workers safe from asbestos in the workplace. Take advantage of all safety training and equipment offered if there is asbestos in your line of work.
Workers should also be proactive in their safety measures:
- Avoid disturbing asbestos products: Refrain from handling or brushing against materials that might contain asbestos.
- Do not dry sweep asbestos-containing dust: This can release dangerous fibers into the air.
- Prevent bringing fibers home: Clean contaminated shoes and clothing at the job site, and take a shower before returning home to protect your family.
Employers in at-risk industries should provide the necessary facilities for these precautions. If they don’t, or if you suspect your employer is not following asbestos regulations, you can file a complaint with OSHA and demand better protections.
Workplace Asbestos Exposure: A Serious Risk
Exposure to asbestos at work has been a major cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses, particularly in industries like construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and automotive repair. Workers handling asbestos-containing materials—such as insulation, roofing, or brake linings—are at the highest risk, especially in environments where safety measures were inadequate or nonexistent. Even brief exposure to asbestos fibers, which can become airborne and inhaled, may lead to severe health issues decades later. Secondary exposure is also a concern, as workers can unknowingly bring asbestos fibers home on their clothing, putting family members at risk. If you suspect workplace asbestos exposure, it’s crucial to seek medical advice and explore your legal options to pursue compensation for potential health impacts.
What Are the First Signs of Asbestos Exposure?
If you’ve worked in industries like construction, shipbuilding, or manufacturing before the 1980s, you may have been exposed to asbestos. Symptoms of exposure, such as persistent coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain, typically appear years later. If you suspect exposure, consult a healthcare professional for an evaluation and consider a chest X-ray or CT scan to detect any early signs of asbestos-related disease.
Symptoms of asbestos exposure usually don’t appear until decades have passed. This is known as the latency period, and it can be as long as 50 or 70 years with asbestos illnesses.
Signs of asbestos illnesses also vary depending on the area of the body affected. Asbestos exposure most commonly causes respiratory diseases like pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Symptoms of pleural asbestos diseases include:
- Coughing
- Chest pains
- Chest tightness
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath
- Lumps under the skin of the chest
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
Less commonly, asbestos exposure causes peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer that affects tissue and organs in the abdominal cavity. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Unexpected weight gain or loss
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, like diarrhea or constipation
- Bowel blockage
How Can You Be Exposed to Asbestos?
Occupational exposure is the most common way people are exposed to asbestos. Today, some people are still at risk for exposure on the job at shipyards, construction sites, automotive mechanic chops, and some industrial, manufacturing, and energy-based workplaces. Asbestos was used heavily in these industries and may still be present in some workplaces.
Older residences and public buildings can also be sources of ongoing exposure. Aftermarket car parts that contain asbestos, like brakes and clutches, continue to put hobbyist mechanics at risk of exposure.
A recently recognized source of asbestos exposure is talcum powder hygiene products. Talc is a natural mineral that sometimes occurs with asbestos deposits. These products should be asbestos-free, but evidence suggests this isn’t always true.
Most occupational asbestos exposures occurred in the past. This is still a concern because it takes decades for illnesses to develop after exposure. Several industries caused significant harm, and people still feel the consequences today.
In the past, many individuals were unknowingly exposed to asbestos in their workplaces due to its widespread use in various industries. Asbestos was valued for its heat resistance, durability, and insulating properties, making it a common material in construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing, and automotive industries. Workers handling materials like insulation, roofing, flooring, cement, and brake linings often came into direct contact with asbestos fibers. Without adequate safety measures or protective equipment, these fibers could become airborne, posing a significant health risk when inhaled. Employers and regulatory bodies at the time were often unaware of or overlooked the long-term dangers of asbestos exposure, leaving many workers vulnerable to serious conditions like asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, which often developed decades after the exposure occurred.
Shipyards
Since asbestos prevents corrosion and resists heat and fire, it was frequently used to build ships.
From boiler insulation, hot water, pipes, and more, asbestos was used for various reasons on ships and often in poorly ventilated areas.
The end result is that numerous ship workers have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other illnesses associated with asbestos exposure.
Most victims were exposed on ships during the Korean War and World War II. During that time, doctors and scientists were uninformed of the devastating effects that asbestos exposure caused. Over four million Americans worked on ships during World War II, and many worked as asbestos insulators.
It wasn’t until the 1960s that the dangers of asbestos were thoroughly investigated and taken more seriously.
California is the leading state for the most diagnosed cases of asbestos cancer. Along with having an overabundance of natural asbestos deposits in the state, California has one of the most extensive coastlines in North America, making it a convenient place for shipyards.
Power Plants
Asbestos was used in power plants because of its ability to endure extremely high temperatures while preventing fires. It covered machinery, pipes, boilers, and other products.
This continued through the early 1980s, even though the dangerous effects of asbestos were already well-known.
Steel Mills and Metal Working
Asbestos was used widely in factory machines because of its fireproof insulation. Many welders, steel mill employees, blacksmiths, and aluminum and iron factory employees experienced prolonged exposure.
In addition to factory machines that contained asbestos, most plants were made using asbestos and as many of the products that employees used.
Metalworkers would spend many hours working in plants and factories covered in asbestos.
In turn, these workers have a heightened risk of developing mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
Construction
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction work is not only one of the most dangerous occupations in the world, but workers also have a high risk of asbestos exposure.
Even with strict regulations on asbestos use, many construction workers still frequently work on homes and buildings constructed before the EPA’s regulations.
Construction work encompasses a variety of different job functions, most of which come with the risk of asbestos exposure, including:
- Tearing down walls
- Home repairs
- Sanding, dusting
- Cutting through wood
- Carpentry and drywall work
- Roofing
- Setting and cutting tile and more
Firefighters
Like construction workers, firefighters also have one of the most dangerous occupations.
Firefighters may still encounter asbestos in homes and buildings with dangerous minerals before the EPA’s strict regulations.
Firefighters today may not know that they’ve developed an asbestos-related illness until decades later, sometimes up to 50 years later. Firefighters must always get regular medical check-ups.
Chemical Production
Chemical plants once used asbestos in numerous components. Asbestos was used in insulation and heat-producing or carrying elements, like boilers and pipes. Asbestos was also used in containers for corrosive chemicals.
Today, the chlor-alkali industry still uses asbestos in filters, putting workers at risk. Chlor-alkali plants make chlorine. The primary chlorine manufacturers are currently phasing out asbestos use.
Oil Refineries
Oil refinery workers face occupational hazards because of the highly flammable materials used, and many workers face prolonged asbestos exposure.
Before EPA regulations, asbestos was used to insulate many components in oil refineries, ranging from ovens, roasters, tanks, boilers, furnaces, pumps, and more.
Oil refinery workers were exposed to asbestos daily, and although it helped them prevent fires and burns, it also put them in danger.
Paper Mills
The paper manufacturing industry has long used ACMs in paper mills. These facilities, especially older paper mills, are full of equipment that generates high temperatures or requires friction-reducing materials.
ACMs are still used in paper-manufacturing machines, such as drying machines.
Older paper mills also used asbestos in insulation in boilers and pipes. Further, these mills were built with cement, paint, ceiling and floor tiles, roofing materials, countertops, and asbestos siding.
Vermiculite Processing
Vermiculite is another natural mineral. It is used in insulation and other building materials, as well as soil additives. W.R. Grace vermiculite mines in Libby, Montana, produced asbestos-contaminated vermiculite for decades until the 1990s.
W.R. Grace shipped tainted vermiculite to processing facilities all over the U.S. Workers in these plants risked exposure to the asbestos in the vermiculite they handled.
School Buildings
According to the EPA, over 130,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in the U.S. contain asbestos.
Since the typical age of a school building is over 40 years old, millions of children and teachers are exposed to a slight amount of asbestos each year. Only schools built after the late 1970s to mid-1980s are asbestos-free.
Today, schools must be inspected routinely to develop an effective management plan for asbestos exposure.
However, per the National Center for Health Statistics, school teachers, specifically elementary school teachers, risk developing mesothelioma.
Asbestos in Older Homes
Older homes built before the mid to early 1980s may contain asbestos. Before the EPA’s regulations, numerous manufacturers and companies used asbestos heavily in insulation, ceiling tiles, vinyl flooring, appliances, caulking, window seals, walls, paints, and more.
Families still occupy millions of homes built with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Seek the help of a state-certified asbestos inspector if you live in an older home, as the human eye cannot detect asbestos fibers.
Until then, make sure never to start any renovations or heavy-duty cleaning projects, as these activities can stir up asbestos fibers.
Asbestos in Children’s Products
As recently as 2015, asbestos was found in certain brands of children’s crayons and toys.
Per the Environmental Working Group Action Fund (EWG), the following crayon brands found with asbestos were shelved and on display in several popular stores:
- Saban Power Rangers Super Megaforce Crayons
- Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Crayons
- Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crayons
- Amscan Crayons
Investigators found asbestos in the following toys:
- Edu Science Deluxe Forensics Lab Kit
- Inside Intelligence Secret Spy Kit
In 2009, another children’s product, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation toy kit, contained asbestos.
CBS and several major retailers settled a class-action asbestos lawsuit involving the product. It’s since been removed from store shelves and is no longer manufactured.
Military Veterans
In addition to civilian industries, the U.S. military used asbestos heavily. The Navy used the most asbestos because it was so common in ships. All branches had asbestos in vehicles, equipment, barracks, and other buildings.
Today, veterans have higher rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses than other populations. Any veteran with symptoms of asbestos illnesses should be screened. They were likely exposed to asbestos during military service.
Environmental Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a natural mineral. Where it occurs in deposits, it can cause local exposure. Activities that disturb these deposits cause exposure: mining, road building, and natural disasters.
Environmental exposure risk is highest in areas where asbestos exists and where development is expanding. Also at risk are people living near industries that use asbestos. This mostly occurred in the past, for instance, in neighborhoods near vermiculite processing plants.
Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
Occupational and direct environmental exposure to asbestos is the principal means by which the toxic fibers enter the body and trigger asbestos-related illnesses.
However, people can be exposed to asbestos in other ways, usually through secondhand exposure, also known as secondary exposure.
Secondhand exposure is more prevalent in women and children than occupational exposure, which tends to affect male workers.
Secondary exposure generally occurred when men returned home from work in industrial job sites or other places where asbestos exposure took place and brought the fibers along on their work clothes, skin, and hair.
Consequently, women who came in contact with the asbestos-covered clothes while cleaning or handling them created small clouds of the fibers and inhaled them.
Children were also exposed to asbestos fibers when they hugged or played with their fathers, brothers, or family friends who unwittingly brought them home on their coveralls or other clothing worn for work.
How to Prevent Asbestos Exposure
The first step in preventing or lowering the risk of asbestos exposure is awareness. Know where asbestos is, so you can protect yourself and your family from it. If you suspect you have asbestos in your home, hire a licensed asbestos professional to inspect and test the materials.
If asbestos materials in the home are contained and unlikely to be disturbed, there is minimal risk in leaving it alone. If it poses a risk, a licensed abatement company can safely remove it.
Workplace exposure to asbestos is much less common today but still possible. Employers are obligated to follow safety guidelines to keep workers safe from asbestos in the workplace. Take advantage of all safety training and equipment offered if there is asbestos in your line of work.
If you suspect your employer not following asbestos regulations, you can file a complaint with OSHA and demand better protections.
Exposure to asbestos can lead to several serious health conditions, primarily affecting the lungs and respiratory system. These conditions often develop years or even decades after exposure. The most common asbestos-related diseases include:
- Asbestosis: A chronic lung condition caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, leading to scarring of lung tissue (fibrosis). This causes shortness of breath, coughing, and reduced lung function.
- Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer that affects the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue covering the lungs, abdomen, or heart. This condition is strongly linked to asbestos exposure and is often diagnosed in later stages.
- Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, especially in individuals who smoke. Symptoms may include persistent coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
- Pleural Disease: Non-cancerous conditions affecting the pleura, such as pleural plaques (hardened areas of tissue), pleural thickening, or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). These can impair lung function and cause discomfort.
- Other Cancers: Although less common, asbestos exposure has also been linked to cancers of the throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum.
Organs Affected by Asbestos Exposure
While the lungs are the primary site of asbestos fiber accumulation, other organs can also be significantly affected:
- Esophagus: Some studies have found an association between asbestos exposure and esophageal cancer, affecting the food passageway.
- Larynx: Exposure to asbestos is linked to cancer of the voice box, posing risks to the vocal cords and throat.
- Pleural Membrane: Inhaled asbestos fibers adhere to the pleural membrane, causing scarring and mesothelioma, a cancer affecting the lung lining.
- Diaphragm: Asbestos fibers can become embedded in this crucial muscle, complicating breathing mechanics.
- Heart: Although asbestos fibers do not directly affect the heart, they can infiltrate the soft lining, leading to pericardial mesothelioma.
- Abdomen: Asbestos can cause peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer in the lining of the abdominal cavity.
By understanding the wide-reaching impact of asbestos on various organs, individuals can better grasp the severity of asbestos exposure and its potential health implications.
What to Do if You Have Been Exposed to Asbestos
Talk to your doctor immediately if you suspect you have ever worked with or been around asbestos. The sooner you get a diagnosis, the better your prognosis.
An early diagnosis means you can start treatment sooner. You are also more likely to catch the disease in an earlier stage when it can be treated more effectively. Early diagnosis gives you more treatment options.
Exposure to asbestos can lead to several serious health conditions, primarily affecting the lungs and respiratory system. These conditions often develop years or even decades after exposure. The most common asbestos-related diseases include:
- Asbestosis: A chronic lung condition caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, leading to scarring of lung tissue (fibrosis). This causes shortness of breath, coughing, and reduced lung function.
- Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer that affects the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue covering the lungs, abdomen, or heart. This condition is strongly linked to asbestos exposure and is often diagnosed in later stages.
- Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, especially in individuals who smoke. Symptoms may include persistent coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
- Pleural Disease: Non-cancerous conditions affecting the pleura, such as pleural plaques (hardened areas of tissue), pleural thickening, or fluid buildup (pleural effusion). These can impair lung function and cause discomfort.
- Other Cancers: Although less common, asbestos exposure has also been linked to cancers of the throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum.
Because these diseases often have long latency periods, individuals may not experience symptoms until decades after the initial exposure. Regular medical checkups and monitoring are crucial for those who have been exposed to asbestos to catch potential health issues early.
Conditions Caused by Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to asbestos can lead to several serious and often life-threatening conditions, with mesothelioma being the most well-known. This aggressive cancer primarily affects the lining of the lungs (pleura), abdomen (peritoneum), or, more rarely, the heart (pericardium). Other conditions include asbestosis, a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, leading to scarring of lung tissue and severe respiratory issues. Lung cancer is another common outcome of prolonged exposure, while pleural plaques and pleural thickening are non-cancerous but still debilitating effects. These conditions typically take decades to develop after initial exposure, underscoring the long-term health risks of asbestos. Early diagnosis and medical intervention are critical for managing these diseases, as is seeking legal advice to explore compensation options.
How to Seek Compensation After Asbestos Exposure
Also, consider talking to a mesothelioma lawyer to find out how to seek compensation. Most asbestos exposure is considered negligent, which means victims have a right to hold asbestos companies accountable.
If you have an asbestos illness, a lawyer can help determine where and when you were exposed. They can also pinpoint which companies are responsible. You may be able to file a lawsuit to seek a settlement or make a claim with an asbestos trust fund.
If you are a veteran with an asbestos illness, a meso lawyer near you can help you apply for VA benefits. These include monthly compensation and benefits for dependents.
Getting Legal Help
Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. If you need additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.
