Asbestos has been a hotbed topic for years. Exposure to the substance has been linked to serious health problems and death for decades. Despite the abundance of evidence showing its dangers, many industries continued to use the substance. As a result, countless individuals have been exposed to asbestos, often without knowing it.
Many people who are struggling to cope with asbestos-related health problems or who have lost loved ones are joining class action lawsuits. These lawsuits focus on holding companies accountable for exposing workers and consumers to asbestos.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once commonly used in construction, shipbuilding, automotive industries, and more. The mineral has impressive heat resistance and is remarkably durable. It's been used in the manufacture of insulation, roofing, flooring, and even brake pads.
Unfortunately, despite its so-called ‘perks, ’ asbestos is incredibly dangerous when its tiny fibers are inhaled by humans. Over time, the asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs, causing severe health conditions, including cancer.
Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?
When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can cause permanent damage to the lungs and other organs. The most common illnesses linked to asbestos exposure include:
Mesothelioma
A rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
Asbestosis
A chronic lung disease, asbestosis is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. It can cause scarring of the lungs, making it hard to breathe and impairing an individual's entire life.
Cancer
Prolonged exposure to asbestos increases the risk of cancer, especially lung cancer, stomach cancer, and colon cancer.
Studies have shown that many health problems are caused by or made worse by asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, some people and medical professionals miss the link between the health condition and asbestos because it often takes years or even decades to develop after exposure.
Asbestos Exposure
Wondering how you get exposed to asbestos? Breathing in asbestos fibers is the most common way that exposure occurs. This can happen during mining, processing asbestos, making products with asbestos, or installing asbestos insulation.
Inhaling asbestos can also occur when older buildings containing asbestos are demolished or renovated. You might also inhale asbestos when the asbestos-containing materials start to deteriorate.
When asbestos fibers become airborne, they are easy to inhale. Some of these fibers can reach the small airways in the lungs or even the outer lining of the lung and chest wall (the pleura).
Asbestos can also be swallowed. This happens when people consume contaminated food or water (such as water from asbestos cement pipes) or when they cough up inhaled asbestos and swallow it accidentally.
The Rise of Asbestos Class Action Lawsuits
As people began to realize the dangers of asbestos, lawsuits started piling up nationwide as people sought monetary assistance and justice. Today, asbestos class action lawsuits are one of the largest mass tort cases in history.
Asbestos lawsuits seek to hold companies accountable for using asbestos in their products or workplaces without properly protecting or informing workers and consumers.
It has been shown that many companies knew about the dangers of asbestos long before they stopped using it. These lawsuits claim that companies failed to take proper action to protect people from exposure, even when they had evidence of the dangers.
Who Is Affected by Asbestos Exposure?
Asbestos exposure has affected millions of people, especially those who worked in industries like construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, the military, and automotive repair. But it’s not just workers who were at risk.
Family members of those workers could also be exposed to asbestos when fibers were brought home on clothing or equipment. A housewife who regularly washed her husband’s work clothing could have spent years inhaling the asbestos fibers while performing everyday household chores.
Even today, some older homes, schools, and public buildings still contain asbestos in their insulation, tiles, and other materials. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos could potentially face health problems or even death down the line.
At OnlyClassActions, we’re here to help you every step of the way. If you or a loved one has been impacted by asbestos exposure, don’t wait—explore your legal options today. Learn how today - contact us to join the Asbestos Lawsuit.
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