Exposure to asbestos can happen in rather unexpected ways. For instance, studies have found that some makeups contain asbestos particles. Few people expect that, and it was shocking when the news broke.
That said, asbestos exposure usually happens in a number of more common ways, such as:
- Breathing in asbestos when doing a renovation on an older building that was constructed with asbestos insulation, asbestos tile or a host of other products.
- Breathing in the particles when such a building is demolished.
- Swallowing the particles if they end up in drinking water, which may move through old pipes made of asbestos cement.
- Swallowing asbestos in food that has become contaminated, perhaps because it was prepared in a room with open asbestos exposure.
- Breathing in asbestos during the abatement process. Those who work in this industry full-time have specialized protective gear to lower the risk, but there is always a risk.
Essentially, it is exposure to these older building materials that puts you in contact with asbestos. After all, it was once considered a very useful material. Electricity does not pass through it. It does not burn. It is an excellent insulator. It is resistant to heat. It is resistant to chemicals. Building products were thought to be stronger and safer when they contained asbestos, at least until studies began to show that it was causing lung damage and cancer.
Are you suffering from a disease that can be traced back to asbestos exposure? This is incredibly serious and often fatal. It is imperative that you know all of your legal options moving forward.
Source: American Cancer Society, “Asbestos and Cancer Risk,” accessed June 01, 2018