Asbestos Information

Actinolite asbestos is not as flexible as other forms of asbestos, but it is harsh in texture and easily inhaled. This type of asbestos is mostly used for fireproofing and insulation.

Most amosite asbestos comes from Africa, and this type of asbestos is often referred to as brown asbestos. Common uses for amosite asbestos include thermal insulation and ceiling tiles.

Anthophyllite asbestos is not used as frequently as some of the other types of asbestos, but may be found in roofing materials, plumbing materials, and cement tiles.

Chrysotile asbestos is the most common form of this mineral, accounting for up to 95 of all asbestos used throughout the world. Chrysotile asbestos is used in a wide range of applications and products, including roofing, walls, flooring, ceilings, automobile brake linings, boilers, pipe insulation, and gaskets.

Crocidolite asbestos is sometimes called blue asbestos, and it can be found in Australia, South Africa, and Bolivia. Crocidolite asbestos is used the least of all types of asbestos, but it is also widely acknowledged to be the most dangerous form of the mineral.

Tremolite asbestos can be found in a number of colors, such as gray, green, and white. This type of asbestos may be used in paints, roofing materials, sealants, and talc powders.

As this disease’s name implies, asbestosis results directly from exposure to asbestos.  Asbestosis is a lung condition that arises when asbestos fibers are inhaled, causing irritation and scarification around the lungs.  This leads to stiffening of the lungs, restricting air flow and causing a raspy cough.  Other asbestosis symptoms include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, dry raspy cough, pain or tightness in the chest, and crackling sounds when breathing.  There is no cure for asbestosis, but there are a number of therapies and medications that have proven to aid in symptom reduction and enhancing patient comfort.

Asbestosis – like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases associated with asbestos exposure – is best treated when diagnosed at an early stage. While there is no cure for asbestosis, treatments such as oxygen therapy or breathing therapy can help reduce asbestosis symptoms and enhance patient comfort. It is crucial that asbestosis patients are not smokers, as their lungs’ ability to function is already compromised.

Some asbestosis patients do not display symptoms until decades after asbestos exposure, so it can be difficult to trace the roots of a person’s exposure.  Fortunately for our clients, the asbestos disease attorneys at Arentz Law Group, P.C. have the experience and resources victims need to determine the source of their asbestos exposure and hold the party or parties responsible for this exposure fully accountable under the law.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), lung cancer is “the greatest health risk for American asbestos workers”, and lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed asbestos-related disease in the United States.  Some experts estimate that up to 10,000 Americans die each year as a result of asbestos lung cancer.  The risk of asbestos lung cancer increases greatly for smokers, as smoking weakens the lungs and leaves them vulnerable to diseases and infections.

Forms of cancer that have been linked to asbestos exposure include:

• Gastrointestinal Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Ovarian Cancer
• Leukemia

While there is no longer any doubt that asbestos exposure is the cause of mesothelioma, experts are still unsure exactly how asbestos exposure can lead to the development of this vicious cancer. There are a number of theories about the correlation between asbestos and mesothelioma:

• The body produces molecules known as free radicals as a reaction to asbestos exposure. It is believed that these free radicals can cause DNA damage which may result in the cell mutations responsible for the development of cancer.
• The structures in our cells that are responsible for cell division may be disrupted by exposure to asbestos, and these changes could lead to the development of rapidly dividing mesothelioma cells.
• The body produces oncoproteins as a reaction to exposure to asbestos. These oncoproteins spur the abnormally fast rate of cell division that leads to cancer.
• Inflammation and irritation of the mesothelial cells, which line the organs, can be caused as a reaction to asbestos exposure. This causes scar tissue to develop and may also cause cellular damage which marks the development of cancer.

If you become aware that you are or have been exposed to asbestos, the first thing you need to do is to stop the exposure. There is no way to undo asbestos damage to your lungs or other organs, but you can be pro-active by letting your doctor know of your exposure so that he or she may watch for any signs or symptoms of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

• Boilermakers
• Chemical plant workers
• Commercial and residential construction
• Contractors
• Electricians
• Firefighters
• Machinists
• Metal workers
• Millwrights
• Navy and Armed Services veterans
• Oil refinery workers
• Pipefitters
• Plumbers
• Power plant workers
• Sheet metal workers
• Shipyard workers

• Adhesives
• Cement
• Mortar
• Sealer
• Welding rods
• Wallpaper
• Auto brake linings
• Auto brake pads
• Auto disc brakes
• Drum brakes
• Clutch linings
• Transmission plates
• Cement pipes
• Some plastics
• Plaster
• Joint compound
• Paint
• Boilers
• Cables
• Furnaces
• Heating ducts
• Valves and valve rings
• Wiring insulation
• Weatherproof clothing
• Ceiling tiles
• Flooring, including vinyl flooring and tiles
• Gaskets
• Insulation
• Cigarette filters
• Baby powder
• Hair dryers
• Covers for ironing boards
• Some appliances
• Acoustical panels
• Sheetrock
• Pipe insulation
• Fire blankets
• Fire doors
• Boiler coatings
• Fireproofing materials
• Weather coating
• Fake snow
• Talc powder
• Siding
• Roofing materials including shingles
• Siding
• Stucco
• Rope
• Textiles

This is not an exhaustive list of all products which may contain asbestos.

Asbestos removal and abatement specialists are contractors have the extensive training and equipment needed to safely remove asbestos from homes and other sites where the deadly mineral may be present. If your home was built before the 1980s, there is a high likelihood that your home contains asbestos.

Up to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma ever year, and most don’t survive more than 18 months after diagnosis. Exposure to asbestos can also cause other potentially fatal diseases, such as asbestosis and a number of cancers. If you believe there may be asbestos in your home, school, or workplace, you should contact a specialist who can safely remove it.

• Experience: The more experience a contractor has with asbestos, the better.
• References: When researching a contractor, try to get a number of professional references.
• License: Request a copy of the contractor’s license proving that the person is a certified asbestos abatement specialist. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.
• Contract: A reputable asbestos contractor will give you a contract which describes in detail the plan for removing asbestos from your property. This contract should refer to specific areas of the home where asbestos has been identified, such as roofing materials or insulation.