Non-Occupational Asbestos Exposure
Non-occupational asbestos exposure is of great concern to public health agencies. Although asbestos exposure in the workplace is well documented, information about non-occupational asbestos exposure is a bit harder to find. In either instance, elevated exposure to asbestos, a known carcinogen, can result in asbestos cancer and life-threatening lung diseases.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to develop asbestos cancerdiseases in the coming years, whether from a work history with asbestos or because of non-occupational asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Is Everywhere
It should be kept in mind that at least a low level of asbestos is present in almost all environments, since asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in the soil and water. As asbestos mining increased in the 1900s, the mineral started being used as a component in thousands of products. Consequently, the levels of asbestos exposure to human beings skyrocketed, and workers who dealt with asbestos on a regular basis developed lung cancers, asbestosis, and mesothelioma cancer at alarming rates.
In Homes, Schools, Public Buildings
At the same time, non-occupational asbestos exposure at dangerous levels was occurring in schools, public buildings, and homes across the United States, due to the widespread use of asbestos in building materials such as insulation, plumbing, and fire-resistant cloth.
Individuals who have not had exposure to asbestos as part of their employment have developed asbestos cancer diseases such as mesothelioma cancer, and it is apparent that occupational-level asbestos exposure is not required for an individual to develop an asbestos-related disease.
On Work Clothes, Shoes and Hair
Family members of asbestos workers are also among the many victims of non-occupational asbestos exposure. The tiny fibers can cling to the clothing, shoes, hair and skin of people working with asbestos, traveling home with them and exposing family members and pets to dangerous levels of asbestos cancer.
Federal safety laws now require that employees who must work with asbestos limit the possibility of taking asbestos home with a variety of precautions:
- Showering after work at the workplace
- Storing street clothes in a separate locker at work
- Changing clothes before leaving the workplace
- Laundering clothes at the workplace
- Washing work clothes separately at home
Symptoms of Asbestos Cancer Disease
If you are having any of the following symptoms and you suspect that you may have been subjected to non-occupational asbestos exposure, see a doctor:
- Shortness of breath, hoarseness or wheezing
- Persistent and worsening cough
- Blood in fluid coughed up from the lungs
- Pain or tightening in the chest
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swelling of the face or neck
- Fatigue or anemia
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
Questions about Non-Occupational Asbestos Cancer Exposure?
To learn more about non-occupational asbestos exposure and the resources available to victims of mesothelioma cancer, contact mesothelioma treatment centers today. We're happy to answer your questions.
Non Occupational Asbestos Exposure (english) / Exposicion No Ocupacional al Asbesto (spanish)
