I Was Exposed to Asbestos. What Should I Do?

When exposed to asbestos, taking medical precautions and preventing further exposure are critical.

Generally speaking, when breathing in asbestos dust, many more fibers are expelled during exhalation than stay in the body. That fact, however, does not discount the warning by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to avoid all or any asbestos exposure.

What to do when exposed to asbestos

Mesothelioma has a long latency period and may take decades to develop. Nevertheless, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other diseases may be more readily apparent. People exposed to asbestos, should inform their doctors and get regular checkups that include lung X-rays and a check of lung function. A doctor should be alerted if any of the following symptoms appear:

These symptoms often indicate mesothelioma.

Smokers exposed to asbestos should quit smoking. Statistics show that individuals with histories of both smoking and asbestos exposure are at the greatest risk for developing lung cancer. Early treatment typically provides a more positive prognosis than delayed treatment.

Prevention of further exposure

Because exposure is a factor contributing to asbestos-related diseases, it is important to take steps to prevent further exposure. Actions taken depend on evaluating the situation involving asbestos. Here are some actions to follow:

• Friable means the material is prone to breaking up, flaking, or crumbling, which creates dust and releases asbestos fibers release into the air.
• For areas that underwent an asbestos removal process, consider how often the area was occupied, whether air systems were capable of sucking in and spreading asbestos dust, and the type of cleaning that occurred after the removal. Washing and wet mopping removes a lot of asbestos fibers, but ordinary vacuuming would tend to spread them around.

Hiring a licensed asbestos inspection agency to test and inspect can help you evaluate taking further action.