Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been proven to cause cancer and numerous other diseases when inhaled or ingested. Asbestos is found predominately in older homes, in commercial and residential insulation (i.e. for pipes and furnaces), floor tiles, asbestos shingles, textured paints/other coating materials and millboard. Asbestos was used to strengthen various products an worked well making products more heat resistant and fire resistant.

There are six different fibrous minerals that are associated with asbestos. They are amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and the fibrous varieties of tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite. These mineral fibers are harmful if ingested in any manner, therefore material with asbestos should not be handled without being shielded by a protective covering.

The two most common diseases that occur as a result of asbestos exposure are Mesothelioma and Asbestosis.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer in which the patient's body cavities including the abdominal region and chest are lined with cancer cells. Asbestosis is a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity.

Asbestosis is a breathing disorder and is the result of the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Accumulation of asbestos fibers over time can scare lung tissue and diminish breathing ability. Asbestosis often worsens over time, disabling the patient. Prolonged exposure can lead to death.

Exposure to Asbestos

Even brief exposure to asbestos fibers can be dangerous. Typically exposure would have been prior to the 1980s, but the development of c mesothelioma can be up to 40 years or more. Thousands of workers from various industries have been exposed to asbestos, and there is also a risk to family members due to contaminated work clothes.

Asbestos fibers have been linked more frequently with these occupations:
Auto Mechanics * Building Inspectors * Drywallers * Carpenters * Bricklayers * Electricians * Furnace Workers * Plumbers * Roofers * Painters * Glazers * Boiler makers * Grinders * Iron workers * Insulators * Steam fitters * Mill workers * Maintenance workers * Operating Engineers * Sand blasters * Plasterers * Sheet metal workers * Welders * Tile setters

Handling an Asbestos claim is a specialized area of the law. One of the problems an attorney may have in pursuing an asbestos claim is being able to identify the product. As the Plaintiff the law requires that you prove the brand name and manufacturer of the particular asbestos products involved in causing mesothelioma or asbestos disease. Due to the time delay between the exposure and the diagnosis of the disease makes it difficult for many clients to identify the specific brand name of the asbestos product was present a job site 20 or 30 years ago. It is important to have access to a database of product identification materials such as photographs job sites at major industrial centers across the country.

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Related practice areas: Personal Injury, Defective Products