Throughout the 20th century, tons of asbestos were mined in our country and put in thousands of everyday products. Asbestos was very inexpensive and was used as filler in many different products throughout many different industries. For example, asbestos was widely used in insulation.
There are a number of different jobs where workers were exposed to a large amount of asbestos on a very frequent basis. People who have worked in asbestos insulation manufacturing may have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure on the jobsite.
Properties of asbestos allow it to retain heat or cold, reduce sound, resist moisture, heat and flame, and have low electrical conductivity, making it a desirable material for use in insulation for both consumer and commercial uses. Insulation can be found in many forms that historically may have contained asbestos.
Those who worked in insulation manufacturing may have been at higher risk of asbestos exposure. These workers handled asbestos directly and were likely exposed to a higher concentration of airborne asbestos in their work environment. When airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can stick to mucus in the throat and lungs. These fibers could then hurt mesothelial cells, putting insulation manufacturing workers at increased risk of developing peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, or pericardial mesothelioma along with other asbestos-related diseases.
Unfortunately, millions of people have been exposed to asbestos over the years. Only now are we able to see the disastrous effects of asbestos exposure in the workplace. Generally, it takes 10 to 60 years from the time of asbestos exposure until symptoms appear or mesothelioma is diagnosed.
Many of the companies have established trust funds to pay compensation to persons injured by asbestos.
If you have mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related injury, and wish to consult an attorney about your legal rights to compensation, CLICK HERE for a free consultation.