The word asbestos sounds scary enough but when you dig into the facts that make up this natural mineral you begin to understand the legitimate reasons to be afraid. In the early 1970’s the U.S. produced over 800,000 metric tons of asbestos for use as insulation in the attics of new homes. The majority of the mineral was mined in Montana. By 2007 the U.S. was importing only 1,700 metric tons of the substance. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is non-flammable and non-combustible. It produces no smells as it expands to absorb heat.
Because of its strong fibers and easy use asbestos was woven into thousands of products world-wide including postage bags, boots, theatre curtains, blankets, and laboratory gloves. According to Asbestos.com, by the 1950’s asbestos was concentrated into spray form which was used to coat steel in construction of new buildings. The objective was to make buildings fire resistant in the event of a collapse. Along with the thousands of fire-resistant products containing asbestos developers became aware that these fireproof sprays are extremely toxic when applied.
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The most common place to find asbestos is in the attics of most homes. During the new home construction boom of the 1960’s asbestos was the main ingredient limiting heat impact in the attic structure. The asbestos lays open and exposed to the environment causing concern for the people who venture upwards. When someone enters their attic and begins shuffling items around they are disrupting the dormant asbestos causing the fiber dust to penetrate the air which will be inhaled. Even small doses of breathing in these fibers can be catastrophic to your health. In fact, the Center for Disease Control released a warning to the citizens of the United States to remain out of their attics. If you must retrieve something than wear a mask and gloves. If you need to do renovations on your home than it is absolutely mandatory that you hire an experienced and licensed professional who knows how to tend to the toxic environment without exposing others. Not every home is equipped with asbestos but the CDC warns that all of us should treat our attic spaces as if they contain the harmful substance. It’s better to be safe than sorry. By 1973 fireproof spray containing asbestos was banned from the U.S. including the insulation. However Russia continues to mine and export 2 million metric tons of the mineral each year. Doctors realized when people inhale asbestos the fibers lodge themselves in the protective layer of vital organs called the mesothelium. The mesothelioma protective layer surrounds our vital organs and we cannot purge these toxic fibers. Researchers have concluded that malignant mesothelioma develops over a long period ranging from 20 to 40 years. Once the cancer is developed the fatality rates rise in the people infected and the decline of health is swift. This means that all the home and commercial developers and workers in the 1960’s to the 1980’s are at risk for carrying malignant mesothelioma. The symptoms of carrying this cancer are very similar to the symptoms of other cancers and known diseases these similarities cause frequent misdiagnosis in the medical field. It is absolutely crucial for anyone suffering from respiratory ailments to notify their physician if they have worked with or around asbestos. By disclosing every detail of your home and work life, you are enabling the physician to have a clear call on your diagnosis. There is no surgery to remove the fibers and nothing yet developed to destroy them inside your body. In 2005 the CDC provided staggering numbers which some believe are a gloomy prediction for our most recent blue collar workers who have been exposed through the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s. In 1999 there were just over 2,400 deaths directly caused by mesothelioma but by 2005 there were over 18,000! When we probe deeper into the time it takes for people to become diagnosed correctly we will be overwhelmed with the mesothelioma deaths. There is no better time to act than the present. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma than please give us a call, we have compassionate and knowledgeable attorney’s and staff available to answer your questions and hear your story. Brooks Law Group means business, no matter what state you live in we are able to help you in your journey to recovery. Call 1-888-WE-MEAN-IT (888-936-3264).
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