Mesothelioma is considered a health hazard caused by exposure to asbestos, a toxic mineral once widely used in construction, manufacturing, and the military.
When asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed, they can become trapped in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles, leading to chronic inflammation. Over time, this can cause mesothelioma — a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Because asbestos fibers do not break down easily in the body, even minimal or brief exposure can pose serious long-term health risks. If you have an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible for compensation from the companies that used this mineral in their products when they knew it was hazardous.
Get a Free Case Review to learn more about your options for financial assistance after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
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Is Asbestos a Health Hazard?
Asbestos is widely recognized as a major public health and safety concern because it poses multiple hazards to workers, communities, and the environment. Though its use has declined, asbestos can still be found in older structures and materials, making exposure an ongoing risk.
The three main types of asbestos hazards include:
- Health hazard: Asbestos is a Group 1 carcinogen, known to cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These illnesses can take 10-50 years to develop after exposure, making asbestos a severe and long-term threat to human health.
- Occupational hazard: Workers in construction, demolition, shipyards, and manufacturing are at high risk when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed. Inhalation of airborne fibers on the job has historically led to widespread illness among tradespeople, veterans, and industrial workers.
- Environmental hazard: Asbestos fibers do not break down easily and can contaminate air, soil, and water for years. When released from deteriorating materials, they pose risks not just to workers but to entire communities living near affected job sites.
Even people who never worked directly with asbestos can be affected. Family members and others may experience secondhand exposure when fibers are brought home on contaminated clothing, tools, or work equipment.
An estimated 27 million Americans were exposed to asbestos fibers between 1940 and 1979, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
The Health Hazards of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure is uniquely dangerous because the mineral’s microscopic fibers can remain in the body for decades. Once lodged in tissue, these fibers cause persistent irritation and scarring that can lead to life-threatening illnesses.
What makes asbestos particularly hazardous is its latency period — symptoms and diseases may not appear for 10 to 50 years, long after the initial exposure. This delay makes diagnosis and prevention especially challenging, allowing widespread harm to occur before it’s even detected.
Cancers and illnesses caused by asbestos exposure include:
- Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles.
- Lung cancer: A leading cause of asbestos-related deaths and particularly dangerous for those who smoke. Asbestos lung cancer is a major cause of death for military veterans.
- Asbestosis: A chronic, progressive lung disease that causes scarring of lung tissue and severe breathing issues.
- Pleural thickening and effusions: Non-cancerous but debilitating conditions involving inflammation and fluid buildup around the lungs.
- Ovarian cancer: Asbestos exposure has been linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Talcum powder was often contaminated with asbestos fibers, causing many women to develop asbestos-related ovarian cancer over time. Johnson & Johnson has already paid out billions of dollars to families affected by their dangerous talc products.
Even minimal exposure to asbestos can be dangerous and lead to cancer late in life. A total of 75,600 people were diagnosed with mesothelioma between 1999 and 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to learn more about how asbestos exposure happens, symptoms to watch for, and the latest treatment options.
Why Is Asbestos Considered Hazardous?
Asbestos is considered hazardous because its microscopic fibers are extremely durable and easily airborne, making them easy to inhale or ingest without immediate detection. Over time, this can lead to serious and often life-threatening diseases.
Sadly, it can take decades for the hazards of asbestos to show themselves in patients, making early detection impossible and prevention difficult.
Key reasons asbestos is hazardous include:
- Carcinogenic properties: Asbestos fibers are known to cause different types of cancer, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer.
- Durability and persistence: Fibers do not break down in the environment or the body, so exposure can have long-lasting effects.
- Occupational and environmental risks: Blue-collar workers in construction, manufacturing, and other industries are at high risk, and asbestos in older buildings can pose dangers to communities when disturbed.
- Chronic health effects: Even non-cancerous conditions like asbestosis and pleural thickening can severely impact breathing and quality of life.
These characteristics make asbestos a uniquely dangerous material, highlighting the need for strict safety regulations, professional removal practices, and ongoing monitoring for those previously exposed.
Which Type of Hazard Can Asbestos Be Categorized As?
Asbestos is considered a hazardous material because it can harm people and the environment in several ways. It’s not only a health risk — it’s also a danger in workplaces and communities where asbestos is still found.
On the job, asbestos is classified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as an occupational hazard. This means workers are at risk of breathing in fibers when asbestos-containing materials are cut, drilled, or damaged. OSHA requires employers to protect workers by limiting asbestos exposure, providing safety equipment, and training employees on how to handle asbestos safely.
From a public health and environmental standpoint, asbestos is also treated as a toxic substance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies it as a hazardous pollutant because asbestos fibers can remain in the air, soil, and water for years once they’re emitted.
When Is Asbestos Most Hazardous?
Asbestos is most hazardous when its fibers become airborne, which typically happens when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, damaged, or deteriorating. Because these fibers are extremely small and lightweight, they can be easily inhaled without you realizing it. Activities such as cutting, sanding, drilling, or demolishing asbestos insulation, flooring, roofing, or ceiling materials can release microscopic fibers into the air.
Asbestos is also hazardous in older buildings or materials that have degraded over time. Fibers released from crumbling insulation, floor tiles, or ceiling panels can contaminate homes, schools, and public spaces, creating a long-term health threat.
Even short-term exposure can be dangerous if the concentration of airborne fibers is high, but repeated exposure over time greatly increases the likelihood of developing mesothelioma.
“Asbestos is still a ubiquitously present substance around us in a lot of buildings and other things that we are potentially exposed to.”
Hazards of Asbestos Like Mesothelioma Qualify for Compensation
At Mesothelioma Hope, we help anyone affected by the hazards of asbestos exposure pursue medical care and seek compensation.
Our nurses and Patient Advocates can help you:
- Understand your symptoms and exposure risk
- Confirm your diagnosis
- Find local doctors
- Seek medical care to improve your life expectancy
- Pursue compensation to pay for treatment
Call us now at (866) 608-8933 or get a free case review to learn more about your options. It costs nothing to speak with our team.
