Exposure to asbestos can happen at home, in the workplace or in the community. When the objects containing asbestos are disturbed tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When the asbestos fibers are breathed in they get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long period of time. The fibers accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation which can affect breathing and over time cause serious health problems such as:
- Cancer
- Mesothelioma (rare cancer in the chest and abdomen)
- Asbestosis
The greater the exposure to asbestos the greater the health risks. However, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only short exposures. It can take from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear.
Protect yourself from asbestos exposure if you have or know of any asbestos contamination please contact us today!
Source: National Cancer Institute
