Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that can cause mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer, and other serious diseases. The substance was used in thousands of products before the dangers were made public after decades of cover-up by asbestos companies.
Asbestos fibers are usually too small to be seen by the naked eye, which can make it impossible to tell if you’re breathing them in. Additionally, symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can take 10-50 years to show up.
It may be hard to recall when or where you encountered the cancer-causing mineral since asbestos diseases take decades to become noticeable. However, if you worked in a blue-collar industry prior to the 1980s or served in the U.S. military, there’s a good chance you were exposed to asbestos.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible for financial compensation, even if you’re not sure about the details of your asbestos exposure.
Below, learn how you might have been exposed and what you can do to seek financial assistance after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
High-Risk Asbestos Occupations
People working in certain jobs prior to the early 1980s were at a very high risk of asbestos exposure. This is because many industries relied on asbestos-containing materials, causing workers to be exposed daily.
Jobs with a high risk of occupational asbestos exposure include:
- Aircraft maintenance
- Auto repair
- Boiler work
- Construction
- Electrical work
- Firefighting
- Mining
- Plumbing
- And more
“I worked 40 years in the construction business. I was exposed to asbestos through sheetrock, the mud, through gaskets in piping, through respirators, the cartridges, and the filters, all through my career.”
Many of these workers have gone on to develop mesothelioma or other serious health issues today. This is because mesothelioma has a long latency period, appearing decades after initial exposure.
Get our Asbestos Products Guide to learn how you or someone you love may have been exposed to asbestos on the job.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure From Family Members
Workers in high-risk industries may have encountered so much asbestos dust that it clung to their clothing, hair, and shoes. When they came home, they unintentionally exposed their families. This is known as secondhand asbestos exposure, and it can cause mesothelioma.
For example, Julie Gundlach’s father worked as an electrician and brought asbestos home on his work clothes every night, unaware of the dangers. A year after his death from asbestos lung cancer, she was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma.
“When my mother washed his clothes in the laundry room that doubled as my playroom and shook out the dust, she had no idea she was spreading asbestos fibers throughout our house.”
Military Service and Asbestos Exposure Risks
If you served in the military decades ago, it’s likely you were exposed to asbestos. Every branch of the U.S. military used asbestos between the 1930s and early 1980s.
Asbestos helped make building materials and other products heat-resistant and durable. These qualities were necessary in nearly all military assets, including aircraft, bases, and transport vehicles.
U.S. Navy ships, in particular, contained tons of asbestos-containing materials in engine rooms, boiler rooms, and other high-temperature areas. Today, veterans with mesothelioma make up 33% of all patients as a result of this extensive use of asbestos.
Asbestos Exposure From Talcum Powder and Other Products
Across the country, people are being diagnosed with mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and other serious illnesses after using talcum powder decades ago.
Talc and asbestos are often found near each other in rock deposits. Companies like Johnson & Johnson knew of the risks of asbestos contamination in their products but failed to warn consumers, according to lawsuits.
Asbestos was used in consumer products like:
- A/C systems
- Brakes
- Cigarettes
- Insulation
- Makeup
- Paint
- Tile
- Toothpaste
Exposure to asbestos in these consumer products could put you or someone you love at risk of mesothelioma later in life.
Learn more about the risks of asbestos and what you can do to keep you and your loved ones safe in our Free Asbestos Products Guide.
Asbestos Exposure From Older Buildings
Before the dangers of asbestos were widely understood, construction materials like insulation, flooring and ceiling tiles, and cement often contained asbestos. Asbestos was inexpensive and made products sturdy and fireproof.
If your home or workplace was built before the 1980s, it likely contains asbestos materials. Most of the time, these products are considered safe if undamaged and left undisturbed.
Older buildings that may still contain asbestos include:
- Commercial businesses and shops
- Homes
- Office buildings
- Schools
- Warehouses
If you believe your home or a building you work at contains asbestos-containing materials, the safest thing to do is leave them alone. Do not try to renovate your home for asbestos on your own. Consult a licensed professional who can recommend next steps to keep everyone safe.
4 Tips on What to Do If Exposed to Asbestos
There’s no way to lower the risk of mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. That said, if you’re worried about mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, there are a few steps you can take.
Here are 4 things you can do after possible exposure to asbestos:
- Talk to your doctor about your exposure history: This can help them keep mesothelioma in mind if you develop potential symptoms.
- Get routine cancer screenings: The sooner you get a mesothelioma diagnosis, the sooner you can start treatment to help you live longer. You may want to get precautionary screenings even if you feel fine.
- Take protective measures to reduce exposure: If you have asbestos in your home, hire an abatement professional to safely remove it. If you work in a high-risk occupation, follow all safety protocols, such as wearing protective equipment.
- Collect proof of asbestos exposure: Gather any employment or military service records, medical documents, and other information related to your exposure. With an attorney’s help, these documents can strengthen your asbestos case and show that you deserve compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos products.
When it comes to mesothelioma, asbestos is the only known cause. So, if you’ve been diagnosed, you were exposed — and experienced mesothelioma attorneys can help determine how.
If there’s no asbestos, there’s no mesothelioma, it’s that simple. If you have mesothelioma, and you say, ‘Well, I’ve never been exposed to asbestos,’ you were exposed to it. You just don’t know where and you don’t know when.”
How We Can Help Asbestos Victims
If you were exposed to asbestos decades ago, you likely didn’t know that it could cause you to develop mesothelioma later in life. Mesothelioma Hope can help you and your family members if you’re worried about serious illnesses related to asbestos exposure.
Work with our team to:
- Determine when, where, and how you were exposed
- Find top doctors treating mesothelioma
- Pursue compensation for mesothelioma with legal help
- Receive the support you need on this cancer journey
Get our Free Asbestos Guide now to learn more about high-risk materials or call (866) 608-8933 for more information on treatments and financial payouts for mesothelioma.
