Workers who are required to cut cement pipe are exposed to cancer-causing asbestos fibers in the air that exceed the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) permissible level by 50 times the short-term limit, according to a January 2024 study published in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health.
The study underscores the dangers that construction workers continue to face and casts doubt on the asbestos industry’s claims that materials containing asbestos can be used safely and responsibly, said Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of Occupational Knowledge International (OK International), and one of the authors of the study.
“The study demonstrates that there is an immediate need to ban all asbestos cement products that are sold in many countries as these are still being installed in millions of homes and commercial buildings,” Gottesfeld told SciTech Daily.
The findings also indicate that using water to reduce airborne fibers is insufficient to protect workers during most tasks that involve power tools.
China, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam account for approximately 90% of global asbestos sales. Kazakhstan and Russia account for 80% of global asbestos production and export the material to more than 25 low- and middle-income countries.
What Is Asbestos?
The Center for Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry explains that asbestos is the name used to group a class of naturally occurring mineral fibers. These fibers have been widely used worldwide in industrial processes and products.
The fibers are useful in industrial and commercial applications due to their strength, flexibility, and electrical and heat-resistant properties. Products that contain asbestos include automobile brakes, insulation materials, and even cement.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous?
The danger of asbestos comes when it is handled. The microscopic fibers can be released into the air and then inhaled. Because of its fibrous nature and size, asbestos can accumulate in the lungs, which causes respiratory illnesses up to and including lung cancer, laryngeal and ovarian cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
What Are the Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Disease?
Asbestos-related lung cancer is defined by a malignant tumor that invades and blocks the lungs’ air passages. Symptoms may vary, but late-stage symptoms can include:
- Chronic cough
- Chest pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Coughing up blood
Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The disease occurs in the membrane that covers the lungs and chest cavity, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or membranes surrounding other internal organs. Late-stage symptoms of lung mesothelioma include:
- Chest pain
- Ongoing shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Coughing up blood (uncommon)
Other cancers linked to asbestos exposure include:
- Larynx
- Ovary
- Pharynx
- Stomach
- Colorectum
Significant health risks can develop with even intermittent short-term asbestos exposure. While thousands of workers are exposed to airborne asbestos during the manufacture of asbestos cement products in factories in India, Vietnam, and other countries, tens of thousands of U.S. construction workers are exposed while installing asbestos cement roofing, cooling towers, pipes, and siding.
How We Help Victims of Asbestos Exposure
Seek justice with the help of our experienced asbestos attorneys. Our asbestos law firm has represented individuals like you affected by asbestos exposure for over 20 years, aggressively fighting the corporate giants responsible for their dangerous products. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos or suffered from a disease caused by asbestos, like mesothelioma, we can help.