Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos Contamination

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious diseases, including mesothelioma cancer, asbestos-related lung cancer and asbestosis. Contamination of the air, soil and/or water by asbestos can put individuals at risk for exposure to this dangerous carcinogen (cancer causing substance).

If you would like more information about asbestos disease and your legal rights, complete the form on this page for a free, confidential case review from an experienced asbestos lawyer.

1.  What is asbestos?

2.  How does asbestos contamination occur?

3.  Why is asbestos so dangerous?

4.  If I have been exposed to asbestos, am I at immediate risk?

5.  How can Weitz & Luxenberg help me?

1. What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral that is known for its fire-retardant properties. Since the industrial revolution, asbestos was used in the construction of buildings; to insulate pipes and boilers used in factories; in military and commercial ships built at shipyards; in brake and clutch components used in cars, trucks and rail cars; and in the insulation in many electrical appliances used in the home, such as hair dryers and toasters.

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2. How does asbestos contamination occur?
When asbestos-containing materials (ACM) are damaged or disturbed, the microscopic fibers are released into the air. The improper disposal of ACM can cause the air, soil and nearby water sources to become contaminated.

There are also areas in both the U.S. and Canada where natural sources of asbestos are found. This type of asbestos is typically found in mountainous areas.  Those living or working in these areas are at risk, as asbestos can leach into streams that feed lakes, rivers and other groundwater sources.

Before the dangers of asbestos were fully understood, factories and other buildings that used (and sometimes manufactured) asbestos products disposed of contaminated wastes at landfills. If the facilities were closed and the sites underwent demolition, asbestos-containing debris would contaminate the site.

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3. Why is asbestos so dangerous?
When asbestos is disturbed, microscopic fibers are released into the air. When these fibers are inhaled, they remain in the lungs. Unlike other irritants we breathe in, they cannot be expelled from the lungs by coughing, sneezing or blowing one’s nose.

Because of the microscopic structure of these tiny fibers, they attach to lung tissue, where they remain. Many years later, the fibers can cause scarring of lung tissue (asbestosis, pleural plaques or other chronic pleural diseases) or can cause abnormal lung cells to develop (causing lung cancer and mesothelioma).

Studies have shown that anyone who is exposed to asbestos can be at risk. While those who worked with asbestos products on a daily basis are at highest risk, their families were also exposed (secondary exposure) by asbestos dusts on their work uniforms, the interiors of the family car or when using tools or other items at home that were also used at a job site.

Even homeowners working on small home improvement projects can be at risk, whether they devote a weekend to removing asbestos-containing acoustic “popcorn” ceilings, pulled up kitchen floor tiles with asbestos-containing mastic or repaired a toaster oven that has asbestos-containing insulation.

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4. If I have been exposed to asbestos, am I at risk?
There is a very long latency period (the time between exposure to asbestos and when symptoms of an illness first develop) for asbestos disease. In most cases, the latency period is 30 or more years long, meaning that someone who has been recently exposed to asbestos is not at immediate risk for illness.

If you were exposed to asbestos, it is important that you tell your doctor about that exposure. With this important information in your health history, your doctor will be able to screen and periodically test you over the years for signs of any potential health problems. Should you eventually develop an asbestos-related illness, it can be detected and treated in its early stages.

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5. How can Weitz & Luxenberg help me?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, contact our lawyers today for a free review of your possible case. Weitz & Luxenberg has represented thousands of families affected by asbestos disease, and can help you and your family obtain compensation from the companies responsible for your illness.

Complete the form on this page and a Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.