What Are Its Health Effects?

Asbestos fibers can have serious effects on your health if inhaled. There is no known safe exposure to asbestos. The greater the exposure, the greater the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.

The amount of time between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of disease can be as much as 30 years. It is known that smokers exposed to asbestos have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer than just from smoking alone.

Asbestos can cause asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs that leads to breathing problems and heart failure. Workers who manufacture or use asbestos products and have high exposures to asbestos are often affected with asbestosis.

Inhalation of asbestos can also cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen lining. It may be linked to cancer of the stomach, intestines, and rectum, as well

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural fibrous material mined from serpentine rock. This rock is crushed and fibrous strands of asbestos are extracted from the rock. The strands are then used as ingredients in insulation, ceiling tiles and other materials. Three major types of asbestos used commercially are:

Chrysotile, or white asbestos, has curly fibers and is known as serpentine because it is found in serpentine rocks. This asbestos is mined mostly in Canada and then shipped to the United States and is used predominantly in products manufactured in the United States.

Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, has rod like fibers, this form is the least used in the United States.

Amosite has brown rod like fibers belonging to the amphibole group, and containing iron and magnesium.

Items Containing Asbestos

Most insulation materials before the mid-1970s contained asbestos. More than 5,000 products have contained asbestos. A few of the products containing asbestos are:

Cement sheets and pipe products used for roofing and siding, electrical casings, fireproofing spray and materials, building materials and piping.
Asbestos paper products like tables pads, industrial filters, wire insulation and heat protective mats
Friction products like brakes and clutches
Textile products like roofing materials, fire-resistant materials
Also included are plastics, artificial ashes and embers, paints, caulking

Shipyards Where Asbestos was used
US Navy
Portsmouth
Puget Sound
Pearl Harbor
Norfolk

Commercial
American Shipyard Corp.
AMFELS, Inc.
Atlantic Marine Shipyards
Avondale Industries, Inc.
Bender
Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.
Colonna's Shipyard, Inc.
Cascade General
Eastern Shipbuilding Group
Ingalls Shipbuilding
Halter Marine Group, Inc.
Honolulu Marine, Inc.
McDermott Shipbuilding Inc.
Metro Machine Corporation
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company
Norfolk Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation
Ocean Technical Services, Inc
Portland Ship Yard
San Francisco Shipyards

 

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Copyright © 2006 RobertLSteinberg.Com
The information contained in this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. The attorney-client relationship can only be formed by written agreement of the parties. All trademarks are the property of their owners. Robert L. Steinberg is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and in the State of New York. Principal office located in Houston, Texas. Local counsel will be associated in the client's state of filing. Cases are likely to be referred.

Robert L. Steinberg is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas.