| Asbestos exposure can lead to unforgivable | | | | inhaled over a period of time. The effects of |
| injuries that can be precursors to cancer and | | | | asbestosis can worsen over time because this is |
| asbestosis. One can risk exposure to asbestos | | | | a silent killer whose effects can go undetected for |
| anywhere where airborne asbestos exists. | | | | some time. Asbestos exposure can also cause |
| Asbestos injuries can be very serious and cause | | | | mesothelioma, which is a cancerous, deadly |
| great detriment in a person's life. An asbestos | | | | disease that attacks the mesothelium of that lines |
| injury can happen when a person is exposed to | | | | the walls of organs. Mesothelioma is often |
| dangerous amounts of asbestos for continuous | | | | dormant for years but once it is detected a |
| periods of time. | | | | person usually has less than a year to live. |
| Certain occupations are at a higher risk for | | | | Asbestos is truly a silent killer because a person |
| asbestos exposure including those in the | | | | may be living with an asbestos injury for years. |
| construction, railroad, mining, and shipyard | | | | The third effect of asbestos is cancer. Lung, |
| industries. Not only are the workers more likely to | | | | esophagus, colon, kidney, larynx, and pancreatic |
| be exposed to asbestos, but their families are as | | | | cancers can all be caused by asbestos injuries. |
| well. When a worker is exposed to asbestos, tiny | | | | There is a seven times greater risk for individuals |
| fibers of the particles can be brought home via | | | | who have been exposed to asbestos to develop |
| clothes, shoes, and hair. The invisible exposure to | | | | lung cancer than those who have not been |
| asbestos can cause drastic health problems in | | | | exposed. |
| family members because the exposure can go | | | | All of these serious, life threatening problems |
| undetected for long periods of time. Even though | | | | could be prevented through the implementation of |
| the exposure is not very concentrated, over time | | | | prevention programs. The government has |
| the effects can be deadly. | | | | already limited legal employee exposure levels to |
| Some of these deadly effects are asbestosis, | | | | a maximum exposure of 0.1 fibers per cubic |
| mesothelioma, and cancer. Asbestosis is a non | | | | centimeter in an eight hour day. Limiting asbestos |
| cancerous asbestos injury that can lead to | | | | exposure could result in diminishing some asbestos |
| disability and even death. Asbestosis' physical | | | | injuries. It is vital for the government to enforce |
| symptom is the scarring of the lower lobes of the | | | | stricter asbestos exposure laws in order to |
| lungs. This happens when asbestos fibers are | | | | protect the well being of workers in high risk jobs. |