North Carolina Asbestos Injury Lawyers
Asbestos is a mineral once commonly used in construction materials. However, it has been found to cause serious illnesses, including cancer, and is now banned in many countries. People can be exposed to asbestos if they work with or near materials containing it or live in a home or building built before asbestos was banned.
Unfortunately, it can take decades for people to realize they’ve been exposed to asbestos and have contracted life-threatening illnesses. If you or a loved one have recently received a poor medical diagnosis, speak with a lawyer about your options.
Dangers of Asbestos Exposure
People can be exposed to asbestos in two ways: through inhalation and ingestion. Inhalation occurs when asbestos particles are released into the air, and people breathe them. Ingestion occurs when people eat or drink something containing asbestos particles.
Asbestos exposure can cause several illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma (a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs), and asbestosis (a type of lung disease). Workers often exposed to asbestos are at a higher risk for developing these illnesses.
Firsthand vs. Secondhand Exposure
Asbestos exposure can occur in two ways: firsthand and secondhand. Firsthand exposure occurs when someone is directly exposed to asbestos, such as when working with the material. Secondhand exposure occurs when someone is exposed to asbestos indirectly, such as when they are in the same room as someone who works with asbestos and may have microscopic asbestos fibers on their clothing.
Both types of asbestos exposure are harmful. For many years, workers in construction, demolition, and other industries commonly exposed to asbestos, came home from work carrying thousands of unseen asbestos fibers on their clothes. They shed these fibers when they played with their children, sat down to dinner, or simply went about their evening routine. People around them could have inhaled these fibers, which could then lead to cancer and other poor health conditions years later.
Firsthand asbestos exposure is bad. But secondhand asbestos exposure is no better.
How to Trace Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure can occur in a number of ways. One of the most common ways people are exposed is through occupational exposure, which occurs when someone encounters asbestos at work. Workers who are often exposed to asbestos include construction workers, demolition workers, firefighters, and pipefitters.
It can be difficult to figure out where and when a person was exposed to asbestos. However, there are a few ways to determine this information. One way is to look at the person’s job history. If the person worked in a job that involved asbestos exposure, then they were likely exposed to asbestos at some point in their life, even if that exposure was decades ago.
Speak with a Trusted Greenville Asbestos Lawyer Today
Asbestos can cause serious health issues, and it often takes years or decades for those health issues to arise after you’ve been exposed. To help you gather information about who may be at fault for your health issues and to explore your options for compensation, contact an experienced Greenville asbestos lawyer today.