How Can Asbestos Affect My Health

From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of:  lung cancer:
mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity; and asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.

The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time.

The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems.

However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.

If you have ever been exposed to asbestos directly or indirectly, you may need an attorney specializing in the field of Asbestos and Asbestos related litigiation. Contact an Asbestos Lawyer in Alaska now and obtain a free case review!

	Did You Know?
	There are detailed Asbestos exposure monitoring standards Except for brake and clutch repair where a "preferred" control method is used, each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by this standard must assess all asbestos operations for their potential to generate airborne fibers. Where exposure may exceed the PEL, employee exposure measurements must be made from breathing zone air samples representing the 8-hour TWA and 30-minute EL for each employee.