Given that asbestos was widely used by many companies across the United States for nearly 100 years, many people are legitimately concerned about the danger of asbestos exposure from the environment. It is true that in many large cities there is an "ambient" level of asbestos. It remains uncertain, however, whether this level of asbestos increases the risk of getting an asbestos-related disease.
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, and there is the potential for exposure when rocks containing asbestos are disturbed. This may happen during the process of mining for asbestos, and may also occur during the development of new housing projects and other construction projects.
The state of California has some of the largest naturally occurring deposits of asbestos.
Natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and floods, all have the potential to disturb buildings, homes and factories that contain asbestos materials. This means there is a threat of asbestos exposure following a natural disaster. Local and state agencies should offer further information and assistance if that situation arises.
Once asbestos fibers have entered the air or water supply, these fibers can be easily inhaled or ingested and can become lodged in the lining of certain organs, including the lungs, heart and digestive system. Over time, these lodged fibers can cause a great deal of damage at a cellular level and can cause diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
For more information about the danger of asbestos exposure in the environment, contact an experienced lawyer at Kaiser Gornick LLP.