Did your job put you and your family at risk for Mesothelioma?
Occupational Asbestos Exposure
Workplace exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of all Mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the US each year. In 1970, Congress passed regulation declaring that employers must protect their workers from known hazards and exposure to harmful chemical agents such as asbestos. Due to ignorance or willful neglect, many workplaces chose to ignore these regulations and continue endangering the lives of their employees, resulting in many thousands of preventable cases of Mesothelioma.
Because it was so widely used in American industry up to the early 1970s, it is nearly impossible to identify all of the professions exposed to asbestos. We do know that among the most common victims of Mesothelioma are:
The frequency with which tradesmen in these and other occupations came in contact with toxic asbestos fibers, and the fact that employers did little to inform or protect their workers, means that each year more than 3000 Americans find out they have incurable lung cancer. Please read further for a more complete list of professions exposed to the dangers of asbestos.
Non-Trade Related Mesothelioma
Friends and family of workers exposed to asbestos are also at increased risk of developing Mesothelioma. Because microscopic asbestos fibers cling to almost anything they come in contact with, it is nearly impossible for someone leaving a contaminated environment to avoid tracking them into their home. Spouses, children and even family pets can be exposed to asbestos particles through “tracking” or from being in proximity to homes, public buildings and the many consumer products containing asbestos.
Potential non-trade exposure risks include:
- Schools and public buildings constructed before 1970
- Heat resistant fabrics, roofing materials, acoustic tiles
- Soil conditioners that contain Vermiculite
- Cosmetics and hygiene products containing Talc
- Hairdryers and other heated appliances manufactured before 1980
- Secondary contamination by a worker in a profession exposed to asbestos
Contact SEG Law’s mesothelioma attorneys today for more no-obligation information about asbestos exposure and Mesothelioma.