No state has been able to escape the destruction of asbestos, including New Mexico. The state is home to a number of naturally occurring asbestos deposits, so anyone living or working nearby may have been exposed to asbestos.
When asbestos deposits occur near the ground surface, they can be disturbed by everything from vehicles to foot traffic. When disturbed, the long, flexible, and microscopic fibers of the mineral can become dust in the air and be breathed in or even swallowed, possibly leading to an asbestos disease such as mesothelioma years later.
In addition to its natural asbestos history, the state received hundreds of thousands of tons of asbestos contaminated insulation over a period of decades and that insulation was put in nearly every home and building constructed before about 1980.
Even though asbestos use became highly restricted and regulated in the 1970s, the substance has not been removed from many New Mexico buildings and homes and still poses a threat.
In addition, mesothelioma victims may not show symptoms for decades after their exposure, so even though it’s been 30 years since the substance was largely put out of use, it is expected that new cases of mesothelioma will be diagnosed for decades to come in New Mexico.
If you have suspect you may have been exposed to asbestos in New Mexico, or have been diagnosed with the disease and are looking for treatment in the state, read our more detailed page on New Mexico mesothelioma lawyers.
Tags: asbestos, mesothelioma
