Workers at Risk for Mesothelioma

During the twentieth century, asbestos was used so commonly in the United States that avoiding the carcinogenic substance altogether was nearly impossible. Asbestos could be found in schools, apartment and government buildings, homes, stores, ships and shipyards, automotive products such as brakes, and in a variety of products. For a period during the 1950s, cigarette manufacturer Kent even used a form of asbestos in its cigarette filters. Anyone whose job exposes them to asbestos should be considered workers ar risk for mesothelioma.

Workers at Risk for asbestos exposure — There are many professions that may put an individual at a higher risk of asbestos exposure.

While any amount of asbestos exposure can be dangerous, those who work with asbestos day-in and day-out for long periods of time are at particular risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Because mesothelioma can take many years to manifest after prolonged exposure to asbestos, even people who have not worked in at-risk occupations for decades can be diagnosed with the disease.

The Truth about the Asbestos Industry

The use of asbestos in a wide range of occupations was common in the United States into the 1990s, despite efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to band the harmful substance in 1989. The dangers of asbestos had become widely publicized with the first wave of asbestos-related lawsuits in the late 1970s. It was during this period that documents were submitted to courts proving that the asbestos industry had been aware of the health risks associated with the substance, but had gone to great lengths to conceal this information from the public. Likewise, it was shown that the United States government had known of the need for standards to protect members of the U.S. Navy from asbestos exposure; however, these standards were not enforced until the 1970s.

Many people do not realize that the United States, unlike the European Union and Australia, has not yet banned asbestos entirely, and that trace amounts of the substance continue to be used for industrial purposes.

Tragically, the hundreds of thousands of people who have died of mesothelioma, as well as millions of others still at risk for the disease, could have been protected from harmful exposure to asbestos. The gross negligence of the asbestos industry, along with the failure of the U.S. government to act in the best interests of its citizens, has instead had deadly consequences.

Occupations at Risk for Mesothelioma

If you or a member of your family has been employed in any of the following occupations, you need to be particularly attentive to the symptoms of mesothelioma. Be sure to discuss your occupational history with your doctor, and don’t be hesitant to raise your concerns about your risk for mesothelioma. Because mesothelioma is extremely difficult to diagnose, but most effectively treated, in its earliest stages, it is important that you open a dialogue about the disease with your physician as soon as possible.

Asbestos Removal Workers
Bricklayers
Carpenters
Construction Workers
Demolition Workers
Electricians
Firefighters
Furnace Workers
Insulation Installers
Iron Workers
Janitors
Laborers
Longshoremen
Maintenance Workers
Mechanics
Miners
Oil Refinery Workers
Painters
Plumbers
Power Plant Workers
Railroad Workers
Roofers
Sheet Metal Workers
Shipyard Workers
Steel Mill Workers
Teachers
Telephone Repair Workers
Union Workers
Welders

Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or if you have any questions about the disease or its connection to any of the above occupations, please contact a qualified mesothelioma attorney today.