Pittsburgh Asbestos And Mesothelioma Blog

Asbestos isn't just found in roofing or building materials. Did you know that some people have filed claims over asbestos found in baby powder? That's right, a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson claimed that the baby powder contained enough asbestos to cause people to fall ill after using it.

In a new report from Dec. 4, 2018, a study released undermines that claim, even though some experts supported it in the past. The new study looked at 2 million women and discovered that there was no discernible difference between rural and urban residents' rates of mesothelioma. People in rural areas were found to have mesothelioma rates that were higher than those in urban areas, which suggested that they were exposed to more asbestos despite being further from construction materials and the products containing the potentially dangerous mineral.

If you were a Pennsylvania product developer, you might think that a material that possesses properties to resist heat, chemicals and fire would be a good thing. If such material were also strong, durable and flexible, you might be utterly thrilled to consider its potential. The aforementioned attributes are all characteristics of asbestos. However, in the decades since companies routinely manufactured items that contained asbestos fibers, scientists, doctors and others have come to learn how dangerous, not good, it can be.  

It is a myth that products available for consumer purchase in the United States no longer contain asbestos. For instance, if you use talcum powder or potting soil, you might come into contact with the microscopic fibers that can cause incurable respiratory illnesses and cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency believes asbestos is so dangerous that it tried to have it banned in 1989. If you think you have suffered adverse health because of asbestos, it is important to know where to seek support. 

Asbestos is a dangerous material that has the potential to make a person very ill. The interesting thing about it is that you could be exposed for a long time before knowing that you're going to be affected negatively.

Asbestos has the potential to cause chronic respiratory diseases, cancer and other issues many decades after exposure. For most people, it's at least a decade before there are any signs of illness. Many don't know for at least 20 years. Some find out 40 or 50 years later. Everyone reacts differently, and the amount of exposure also plays a role in illness.

Most Pennsylvania residents can attest to times in their lives when they just weren't feeling quite well but were unsure as to the underlying causes of their conditions. There is a difference, however, between suffering a brief episode of ill-health, such as an upset stomach from undercooked food, and becoming debilitated because of a chronic, terminal illness that may have been building up in your body for years without you knowing.

This is why it's always a good idea to seek medical examination if you are experiencing recurring or lasting adverse health symptoms of any kind. Especially if you worked in a factory, steel mill, shipyard or building built before 1978, you are at risk for asbestos injuries that often turn into incurable lung diseases, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.