If You Think You May Have Been Exposed to Asbestos, Do This

Here in Louisiana, we have a number of industries that have exposed workers to asbestos for years and still do— including shipbuilding, offshore drilling, oil refineries, construction, and power plants.

But it’s not just jobs that pose an asbestos danger to many Louisianans. Even our weather can cause asbestos exposure. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the clean-up exposed many people throughout the New Orleans area to asbestos.

An Old Risk and a New Risk

While we commonly think of asbestos exposure as a danger of the past when it was heavily used in the 1930s to the 1970s, unfortunately, asbestos still lingers in thousands of schools, public buildings, and homes and still exists in many industries.

Exposure to asbestos can occur from handling asbestos products, working with old equipment or materials that contain asbestos minerals, or from the very building itself.

Unfortunately, it is not only workers who are at risk for asbestos exposure and asbestos-related diseases. Their families can be exposed too. Second-hand exposure (like second-hand smoke) can occur to family members of workers who may unwittingly bring home asbestos fibers on their clothing, in their hair, or on their equipment. Something as simple as doing the laundry or giving your loved one a hug could cause you to inhale the invisible asbestos fibers.

What to Do If You Think You Have Been Exposed to Asbestos

While long-term exposure to asbestos is more dangerous and can lead to a higher risk of mesothelioma, no amount of exposure to asbestos is safe.

If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos, it is absolutely vital that you get checked out by a medical professional.

Even if you have no symptoms and never experience any, it is best that you get to a doctor, explain that you believe you were exposed to asbestos, and get any necessary tests, like chest x-rays, to monitor or diagnose the situation.

You might think you have a common cold with a lingering cough or tightness in the chest, but keep in mind that the symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases may first appear rather mild and generic. Plus, they take a long time before they actually present, so precaution is the best option here.

Getting seen by a medical professional is, above all, the most important thing you can do if you believe you have been exposed to asbestos. Here in Louisiana, where we still rely on a number of industries that contain asbestos or asbestos products, it is critical that we remain proactive in our health and raise awareness to prevent future exposures.

Mesothelioma Attorneys In Louisiana

At the Day Law Group, our clients are more than just cases to us: they are people who need our help. Unlike the big, out-of-state mesothelioma firms you see advertised on T.V., we are a small, local, Louisiana law firm. Our lawyers handle your case personally with compassion and dedication, and we care about you and your family.  We offer free consultations and we do not get paid unless you win your case. Contact us ToDay or call  225-200-0000.