Asbestos

Asbestos is a fibrous, silicate mineral known for its durability, heat-resistance, and chemical inertness. These attributes made asbestos a commonly used material in construction and industry before its cancer-causing tendency was discovered.

Types of Asbestos

There are three main types of asbestos.

• Chrysotile , or white asbestos, is the most common form of asbestos in the United States and Canada and may be the least harmful. The fibers are fine, smooth, and white.
• Amosite , or brown asbestos, is most often used in thermal insulation systems. The fibers are brittle and straight.
• Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, consists of straight fibers and is used less often than the other two.

Asbestos and Disease

Asbestos fibers are harmful to humans if inhaled. When a person breathes in the small fibers, they remain in the lungs and cause scar tissue to form on the walls of the alveoli (the tiny air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged). The amount of oxygen that is available to the body is reduced through asbestos exposure and worsened through repeated encounters with ACM. There are several asbestos-related diseases that can result from inhaling asbestos fibers:

Asbestosis is a chronic condition that results from scar tissue being built up in the lungs. Asbestosis sufferers may experience shortness of breath and increased risk of lung infection. Damage to the lungs is often permanent.

• Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that results from asbestos exposure. It affects the chest or abdominal cavity
• Lung cancer can also be caused by asbestos exposure
• Other cancers that may result include esophageal, stomach, colon, and pancreatic

Numerous studies attest to the link between cancer and asbestos. Many people who have been exposed do not develop asbestosis or cancer until fifteen or more years after their contact with ACM. Smokers have a significantly higher risk of contracting an asbestos related disease than non-smokers.

Talk to an Asbestos Attorney

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos materials and have developed an asbestos-related disease, it is important to seek the advice of an attorney, in addition to seeking medical care. An asbestos lawyer may be able to help you obtain compensation for your medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.