Understanding what asbestos is and why it is so dangerous

We discuss some complicated and advanced topics on this blog from time to time, from premises liability laws to federal asbestos regulations. But one thing that shouldn’t be difficult to understand is that asbestos exposure can be deadly.

In order to help our readers better understand the risks of asbestos, we are going to use this post to take a couple steps back and explore some basic information about asbestos.

According to information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos is a mineral that is found in nature and mined to be used in a wide range of products. These products include construction materials, automobile parts and even plumbing parts. The reason that asbestos was and continues to be used in these materials is because it is heat-resistant, inexpensive, flexible and strong.

Asbestos fibers can easily break down into microscopic fibers when destroyed or crushed, and product manufacturers would often mix the asbestos with other materials like cement to bind the asbestos fibers. This means that even when a person cannot see the asbestos it could still very well be a health hazard.

Asbestos can be a serious risk when it becomes airborne. If material containing asbestos is disturbed, the fibers can be released into the air. Because of how light asbestos particles are, they can remain the air for quite some time and easily stick to a person’s clothing. When the fibers are breathed in, the asbestos can get lodged in a person’s lungs or abdomen. If this happens, serious damage can be done over time as scar tissue begins to form or cancerous cells start to grow.

The health risks associated with asbestos exposure are not something that victims realize right away. In fact, the damage is done in such a way that it could be at least a decade after exposure that a person even begins experiencing symptoms.

This is just some very basic information about asbestos and why it is so hazardous. This post can give people some idea of how easily a person could be exposed to asbestos without knowing it and what a devastating impact that exposure could have on a person’s health. Having this information could help readers understand why they should take any asbestos exposure concerns seriously and why they might want to consider exploring their rights and options with an attorney.