What happens if you breathe a little asbestos?
If you breathe asbestos fibers, you may increase the risk of several serious diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos exposure may increase your risk for cancers of the digestive system, including colon cancer.
How long do you have to be exposed to asbestos for it to affect you?
The effects of long-term exposure to asbestos typically don't show up until 10-40 years after initial exposure. Symptoms can vary in severity. Asbestosis signs and symptoms may include: Shortness of breath.
What is considered short-term asbestos exposure?
Short-term asbestos exposure involves incidents that last less than a few days. Certain extreme events, such as the toxic exposure caused by the 9/11 attacks, can lead to a high risk of illness later in life. But in general, the health risk from short-term asbestos exposure is low.
How long do you have to breathe in asbestos to get cancer?
Most cases of lung cancer in asbestos workers occur at least 15 years after first exposure to asbestos. In workers exposed to asbestos who also smoke, the lung cancer risk is even greater than adding the risks from these exposures separately.
What happens if you have secondary exposure to asbestos?
Secondary Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma. Secondary asbestos exposure happens when an asbestos worker unknowingly brings asbestos fibers home, putting residents of the home at risk. Secondary exposure to asbestos causes the same diseases as primary exposure including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
What is primary exposure to asbestos?
Primary exposure to asbestos happens to people who work with asbestos. This kind of exposure was common among men in the 20th century because they were more likely to be employed in labor jobs that used asbestos products.
How can I get compensation for secondary asbestos exposure?
This usually involves an attorney, that specializes in asbestos, investigating the work history of a family member who was exposed on the job. New Jersey was among the first states to award compensation to victims of secondary asbestos exposure.