The damaging effects of asbestos are unparalleled, and lead to the worst types of lung cancer a person could potentially contract. The fibers that make up asbestos are dangerous to inhale; but, because asbestos is difficult to detect, many don’t even realize they’re inhaling the harmful fibers. The best defense against asbestos poisoning is information, including information about on prevention, treatment, and legal action.
How to Prevent Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos isn’t something that can be detected by the naked eye. If you suspect asbestos was used in the building of your home or workplace, don’t freak out. More than likely, it isn’t dangerous. Asbestos is only dangerous when the materials it’s housed in become damaged or cracked.
If there are cracked or damaged materials around, don’t disturb them. Get out of the area, seal it off from others, and wait for a professional to clear the potentially hazardous materials.
The Damaging Effects of Asbestos Poisoning
The fibers within asbestos minerals can be dangerous when inhaled or ingested. Short-term inhalation doesn’t typically result in any dangers, but long-term exposure can result in fibrotic lung disease (asbestosis), changes in the lining of the chest cavity (pleura), lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
Because asbestos isn’t something that’s easily identifiable, long-term exposure is a real possibility. If you believe you’ve been exposed to asbestos you should talk to a doctor right away, and you may want to talk to a lawyer because lung disease and mesothelioma are lifelong diseases. Heard Robins, mesothelioma attorney, warns that there is “no total cure for mesothelioma, in part due to the relative rarity of mesothelioma as compared to other cancers.”
Taking Legal Action Against Asbestos
All businesses, companies, and commercial structures are required by law to declare the presence of asbestos. Despite this legality, many employers avoided telling their long-term employees about asbestos. The result has been numerous lawsuits, which have resulted in settlement cases and actual trials. In general, these cases don’t end well for those who attempted to hide asbestos.
If you’ve been exposed, you’re absolutely encouraged to litigate. If you have any doubts or need more information on asbestos identification and control activities, you should seek out a third-party investigator to determine the root cause of your illness or to simply go through your home/business to determine if asbestos is present.
If it is determined you have some form of asbestos poisoning, a doctor or specialist is the only one who should treat you. And, your lawsuit may eventually bankrupt the business that allowed such a terrible tragedy to befall you. Asbestos is an incredibly serious issue, and those who ignore its dangers should be made to pay.