Asbestos Diseases – Whose at Risk?
People at risk for developing asbestos diseases are ones who have been exposed to the mineral for extended periods of time or to who have been exposed to large doses of the mineral. The size, shape, and chemical makeup of the asbestos fiber also plays a role in the chances of developing asbestos diseases.
Millions of American workers have become exposed to asbestos fibers since the 1940s. These workers, along with their families, and other people living nearby asbestos mining fields, are subject to developing various asbestos diseases. If not already diagnosed, diseases can take 20-50 years to surface with symptoms.
Everyone has been exposed to asbestos at some point in their life since asbestos is naturally present in air, water, and soil. Most people will not become ill however from being exposed to low levels of asbestos. People at most risk for developing asbestos diseases are people that have been exposed to the mineral over long periods of time.
People that are at the most risk of developing asbestos diseases include workers exposed to the mineral in jobs such as asbestos mining, manufacturing of asbestos products, shipbuilding trades, firefighters, demolition workers, construction workers, insulation workers, auto mechanics, and various other trades. Many years ago, there weren’t any asbestos regulations to help protect workers in these fields. Nowadays, there are many more regulations in place to protect in order to eliminate the chances of developing asbestos diseases.
Other people at risk for developing asbestos diseases include workers who were involved in the cleanup of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Asbestos containing materials were used throughout the structure of this building and when it collapsed, hundreds of tons of asbestos were released into the air. The people at risk in this case include workers at ground zero, people living nearby, and people working at businesses nearby.
If you feel there is a chance you have an asbestos related disease, you must consult with your healthcare provider immediately. If you would like to learn more about your rights and filing a claim, contact one of our asbestos lawyers today.