Asbestos Exposure in Old Homes, Manufacturing Plants and Factories

Asbestos is a natural substance that can hurt a person’s respiratory functions. Unfortunately, for many years, this substance went unregulated in our country’s factories and manufacturing plants. From the late 1800s to the 1980s, millions of works were exposed to this deadly disease, and as a result, thousands of people have developed mesothelioma and asbestosis, two deadly diseases that have killed many of their victims.

What industries are at risk?

Almost every manufacturing industry has been touched by asbestos. The problem is that these companies conspired to cover the problems with asbestos for decades, which meant that their employees (let alone the general public) didn’t know that they were at risk. In addition to asbestos plants themselves being, of course, dangerous, factories producing the following materials also had very dangerous amounts of asbestos in the air:

There are also hundreds of other types of manufacturing plants that were affected by the use of asbestos. If you worked in any kind of plant before the 1980s, it is important that you see a doctor right away. Even if your product did not contain asbestos, your factory building may have been build using material containing asbestos.

Asbestos Exposure in Older Homes

While the vast majority of asbestos’ victims are those working in factories and mines containing asbestos, homeowners themselves may have been exposed to this deadly substance. In fact, in recent years, the rates of mesothelioma and asbestosis (the two most deadly asbestos-related illnesses) have risen, in part because people are stating to renovate older homes.

In general, if asbestos-based products were used in the building of your older home, you are probably in no danger today. Asbestos is only dangerous when its fibers fill the air. If the asbestos was used in wet products which have since dried or have been covered over with paint, plaster, etc., the fibers are locked in place and cannot fill the air.

The problem is that many older homes are showing signs of wear and tear. When asbestos-based products begin to crumble, the fibers are again released into the air. In addition, homeowners withholder house often like to do DIY home renovation products. Ripping up tile, tearing down walls, and so forth could dig up old asbestos problems.

Asbestos is found in hundreds of products once used to build homes. These include tiles, furnace fixtures, fireplace materials, insulation, textured wall covers, wallpaper paste, plaster, paint, joint compound, heating ducts, pipes, and more. If you live in an older home, before doing and renovations or repairs, talk to an asbestos professional. 

Exposure Problems

Exposure to asbestos in manufacturing plants and factories is such a big problem because workers were exposed to asbestos for long periods of time. Although you can develop health problems relating to asbestos after just one moment of exposure, prolonged exposure can increase your chances of developing dangerous health problems, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. For additional information on asbestos cancer and other related health risks please see the resources at Asbestos.com

The problem with diseases cause by asbestos is that they build slowly over time. The symptoms come on slowly as well, meaning that many people don’t notice them until it is too late. You may not be diagnosed with mesothelioma, for example, until 20 years (or more) after you quit your job at an insulation factory.

Therefore, it is important to see a doctor today if you’ve working in any of the above-mentioned manufacturing plants or factories or if you’ve otherwise been exposed to asbestos. Catching the problem quickly means the difference between survival and being diagnosed with little hope.

For more information on asbestos exposure and abatement please visit the Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center.