Construction and other real estate related tradesmen may have been exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos and now have an increased risk of related cancer. This page addresses the risks and those who may have been exposed.
For a comprehensive list of products containing asbestos here’s a link to the mesothelioma center which may help to determine your level of exposure. mesothelioma center
If you worked in the real estate construction industry or as a contractor between 1955 and 1985 you may have an increased risk of asbestos related cancer. It has been stated and estimated that when the concern of cancer from asbestos was recognized there were over 10,000 products which contained it. Inhalation of the dust created from asbestos is the culprit and the amount of exposure received is the determinate as to whether you will have complications from the exposure.
Though the product has not been widely utilized in over 20 years its former glory as a cheap and superior insulator, still appears today. Many in the construction and real estate trades, especially those who worked in commercial contracting have a higher risk. The dust presented when cutting asbestos laden materials such as:
Pipe insulation having up to 80% asbestos used until 1985 contained in pipe tape, insulating cloth, valves and gaskets;
Acoustic tiles and spray textures having up to 90% asbestos used until 1980 for ceilings, walls, paints, spackles, troweled textures, mastic adhesives and fire proofing sprays.
The list of products which contained dangerous levels of asbestos is boggling but after speaking about it with family members it was used in the same widespread regard as DDT in 1970’s, which was threatening to many bird species and sprayed along Florida beaches where children would run through the mist expelled from the passing trucks for insect control.
Government agency, OSHA, has estimated that 10,000 people per year will die for the next 10 years due to exposure to asbestos which caused their mesothelioma and other asbestos related cancer. Here is a link to the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administrations Medical surveillance guidelines for asbestos & Toxicology.
Asbestos Mesothelioma Gov’t Report
If you find that you have worked with these materials or in these industries and have concerns there are many sources for help, thousands of former and current construction tradesmen are coming forward, you are not alone.
One such related asbestos exposure for a man in Sarasota, whom had been exposed during his tenure as an employee of his parents construction company was awarded $14 million by a jury in Miami-Dade County in 2010, another jury awarded 24 million in a related case, read article in Miami Herald link here
Today, we still find old acoustic tiles in homes built in the 40’s and 50’s, siding which we suspect contains asbestos, and many other obstacles which can stand in the way between profit on a property and financial loss. The best remedy for such findings or suspicions according to the US Customer Product Safety Commission is to remove or remediate the problem.
In our situation it comes down to remediation. If the product is in usable condition, such as exterior siding, we will encapsulate the product. Spraying a binding agent, such as a stucco or adhesive, over the siding followed by a primer and paint will both bind and seal the products asbestos fibers; therefore, the fibers can not be released without removal of the product. If the culprit is vinyl flooring, which we commonly find, we will instead of releasing the fibers into the air by scraping it off or removing it, we will spray adhesive or roll primer over the old flooring before applying our new flooring. This will assist in creating level flooring on which to apply our new flooring and keep the fibers out of the air. According to the Environmental Protection agency, if the suspect product is not releasing asbestos fibers into the air it is safe as long it is undisturbed but who wants a house with 1950’s stick down vinyl square flooring and drop ceiling acoustic tiles?
Learn to protect yourself from asbestos and pending mesothelioma cancer by knowing the risks. If you are already suspecting you have had exposure and are experiencing health issues, you are not alone, call your doctor, ask an attorney, sign up for a support group. EPA Report
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