Once asbestos was found to be heat and fire resistant, it has been widely used. Unfortunately, as we later found, it can cause a myriad of health problems, including cancer.Asbestos has been in widespread use since the late 1800’s. It is heat and fire resistant, and very versatile, making it very attractive to manufacturers regardless of the long-term health risks. Limitations were placed on the manufacture of new products containing asbestos in the 1980’s but it can still be found in older homes and buildings, older products, and some new products. Symptoms of asbestos related illness often do not show up for 10 to 50 years after exposure, and once they do, illness can progress rapidly.

Asbestos related illnesses
Asbestos causes illness hen the fibers get into your body, usually by inhalation, but they can also be ingested. Health problems caused by asbestos include:
· Asbestosis (scarring of the lungs)
· Heart failure
· Kidney cancer
· Larynx cancer
· Lung cancer
· Mesothelioma
· Other cancers

Mesothelioma is cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It affects the lining around your organs. Pleural mesothelioma affects the membrane lining the lungs and is the most common form of mesothelioma. It is not the same as lung cancer. Mesothelioma is fatal, there is no cure, and it is excruciatingly painful.

Symptoms of asbestos related illness
After asbestos exposure, symptoms can take 10 to 50 years to appear. According to the National Cancer Institute, symptoms of asbestos related illnesses include:
· Shortness of breath
· A cough or a change in cough pattern
· Blood in the fluid coughed up from the lungs
· Pain in the chest or abdomen
· Difficulty in swallowing
· Prolonged hoarseness
· Significant weight loss

Who is at risk?
Anyone can be exposed to asbestos. It is in the materials our homes and schools were built with. It is in many common household items. Due to its heat and fire resistance, it is use more heavily in certain industries. Jobs, industries, and work environments which carry an elevated risk of asbestos exposure include:
· Appliance manufacturing
· Asbestos removal
· Construction
· Demolition
· Mining
· Oil refineries
· Shipyards
· Steel mills
· Power plants
· Railroads
· Automotive manufacturing and repair

Thousands of products contain asbestos, possibly over 5,000. Many are common household items including:
· Oven mitts
· Ironing board covers
· Toasters
· Hair dryers
· Chalkboards
· Potting soil
· Rope
· Yarn
· Fake snow

Remodeling you home Remodeling your home can release asbestos fibers that were sealed and contained. This is most likely to happen in older homes. When asbestosis is sealed, it does not cause harm. When you tear into construction materials containing asbestos it can let loose a shower of fibers instantly exposing you and your family. If you suspect that your home may contain asbestos, talk to an asbestos abatement professional before remodeling your home and do not try to remove the asbestos yourself.

Construction Journal Reports Mesothelioma Deaths To Peak By 2015??

Working in the construction industry can be a dangerous job, as the number of fatalities and injuries continue to rise and are accounting for one-third of all employment fatalities, according to the most recent 2007/2008 Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) statistics. However, one of the most dangerous and hidden killers of construction industry employees may actually be the development of mesothelioma cancer, according to an October 2008 issue of Contract Journal.

The journal reported that of the several reasons construction workers die on the job include the following:

* falls from height
* moving or falling objects
* moving machinery
* slips and trips
* asbestos exposure

Of the mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths, the HSE reports that, “in 2006 there were 111 deaths from asbestosis and 2,056 from mesothelioma and the HSE expects deaths from mesothelioma to peak at some point between current levels and 2,450 at some time before 2015.” An additional report from the HSE found that in the United Kingdom alone, there were approximately 4,000 deaths from mesothelioma each year, with a large portion of this number likely deriving from employees within the construction industry.

Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers and asbestos dust. Asbestos, which was derived from a mineral known as vermiculite, was heavily mined and valued within the construction industry for its fire-retardant qualities as well as its inexpensive costs for mass production. The Occupation and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) describes asbestos in the construction industry as a “a group of naturally occurring, fibrous minerals with high tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to heat, chemicals and electricity.” It was used, according to OSHA, as part of the following products within the construction industry:

* sprayed-on fireproofing
* pipe insulation
* drywall joint compounds
* roofing felts and shingles
* ceiling tiles
* fire-resistant drywall
* acoustical products
* cement pipe and sheet
* floor tiles

Asbestos and Construction

While OSHA has developed standards for the construction industry as per the Occupational Standards Safety Act of 1970, the industry remains unregulated to a degree. For example, a recent report from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) found that a standard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) check in Florida revealed thousands of falsified documents for individuals employed to remove asbestos. It is a legal requirement that individuals who are in charge of asbestos removal receive authentic certification for their employment. However, thousands of documents had been forged with false or illegally obtained social security numbers.

Developing Mesothelioma Litigation

Individuals who have suffered from the debilitating condition of mesothelioma cancer could potentially qualify for a return of monetary compensation with the development of a mesothelioma lawsuit. If costly medical bills become too much for an individual who is suffering from this rare and painful condition, they may be able to discuss litigation with a knowledgeable mesothelioma attorney.