| By :
Wendy Moyer
There are a lot of ways that a person can be exposed to asbestos. Most often asbestos exposure results when someone inhales or swallows the asbestos dust or asbestos fibers that are in the air. If this happens to you your body will have a lot of difficulty trying to expel the asbestos particles. The fibers can lodge in the linings of your lungs, heart, or abdomen. Then, if they do become lodged in your body, irritation and inflammation will be the inevitable result. Even more serious adverse health effects may happen, but it often won't be for ten to twenty years or more. The body cannot break down asbestos fibers. They remain a source of irritation for as long as they are in your body. This irritation can result in lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and a higher risk of getting a variety of additional diseases. But how does this all happen? There are a number of ways that you can ingest asbestos fibers. The most frequent way it's ingested is via drinking water. When you have swallowed asbestos it can increase your risk of stomach, throat, and intestinal cancer. Naturally Occurring Asbestos Asbestos is a natural mineral. It is found in a lot of areas throughout the US. Although naturally occurring asbestos is generally only a small threat to your health if it is undisturbed, there are a number of areas around the country where people have become victims of asbestos related diseases because they were exposed to asbestos in its natural state. A lot of naturally occurring asbestos can be found in California. In California it is so close to the soil's surface in some areas that it can easily be disturbed. If it is disturbed by things such as construction, the wind, landscaping, etc, the asbestos particles often become airborne. When that happens they will become a health hazard. However, the most common type of asbestos exposure happens in the workplace. Occupational exposure to asbestos has been common amongst miners, people who worked in shipyards, brake mechanics, people who worked for companies that manufactured asbestos products, people in the construction industry, the demolition industry, and more. Since the majority of exposure to asbestos occurred in occupational settings, one of the first things that should be done by someone who has been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease is to review their employment history. That's because if you are the victim of mesothelioma, asbestosis, etc, and you acquired the life threatening disease as a result of your employer's negligence you may be able to hold the company accountable. If so you could receive a substantial settlement or award through an asbestos lawsuit. Unfortunately, the life expectancy for someone who has been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease is usually measured in months rather than years or decades. So you will need a considerable amount of money to not only take care of your medical expenses, but your family once you have succumbed to the disease.
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