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what you need to know today about asbestos frequently asked questions

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say the word asbestos and most people think you are mentioning something from the past ­ something that has no relevance to people today but that perception is far from accurate shockingly asbestos a known carcinogen is responsible for approximately 10,000 deaths a year in the united states alone and due to powerful industry lobbying the use of asbestos is still not banned in the united states as one of the first law firms to ever successfully win an asbestos cancer lawsuit baron budd is proud of the work we have done to expose the companies responsible for knowingly exposing innocent people to asbestos and we are proud that over and over again we have been able to seek and win financial compensation for our clients the victims of this terrible tragedy in addition to representing people in the courtroom we also consider it part of our duty to inform and educate the public about the dangers of asbestos we hope that this brochure is helpful and encourage you to call or email us day or night with your questions thank you for your interest in this important environmental issue russell w budd

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why is asbestos a problem today during the last century asbestos was widely used in all types of construction for example it was frequently used in drywall compounds paint texturing ceiling texturing gaskets sheetrock and other routine construction materials during the construction process many workers were exposed to asbestos as they worked to build homes and other buildings the common practice of using asbestos in building materials continued through the 1970s since the latency period of asbestos-related cancer is so long the problem today is twofold one people who worked in construction or in other contaminated environments decades ago are just now becoming sick and two the buildings originally constructed with materials that contained asbestos are now often being remodeled which means that the dangerous material is once again being released into the air or ingested the asbestos fibers also can eventually trigger cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer is asbestos still being manufactured and used today over 50 countries today have banned the use of asbestos but due to powerful industry lobbying the united states is not one of them products over 50 countries today have banned the use of asbestos but due to powerful industry lobbying the united states is not one of them wouldn t i have known if i was exposed to asbestos on the job many people have been exposed to asbestos without their knowledge for example common construction materials such as sheetrock popcorn ceiling materials vinyl floor tiles gaskets and other construction materials contained large amounts of asbestos and were manufactured and installed for decades without any warning labels or caution given to workers asbestos may not have even been listed as a product ingredient also asbestos often breaks off and becomes airborne in such small pieces that it is invisible to the human eye yet even those invisible particle can be inhaled and cause asbestos cancers containing asbestos are still allowed into the u.s in the form of some construction materials and auto parts to name a few why is asbestos exposure a health hazard the health risks of asbestos occur when these tiny fibers are released into the air through normal handling of the material and are breathed is there any safe level of exposure to asbestos the overwhelming worldwide scientific consensus is that there is no safe level of exposure although overall risk rises with increased exposure even 4 5

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one small exposure has been reported to trigger the type of cancer that is only caused by asbestos is the asbestos problem overhyped the world health organization calculated that in 2009 over 90,000 deaths were directly linked to asbestos exposure worldwide if my house was built before 1975 does it contain asbestos how do i know for sure if your home was built prior to 1975 chances are that it does have do not begin any remodeling of your home without proper inspection if you think there might be asbestos asbestos in it the good news is that left undisturbed the asbestos is not harmful a certified asbestos technician is the only person who can accurately evaluate your home and tell you if you have areas of concern see http www.epa.gov for a list of asbestos technicians how do i protect myself if i have asbestos in my home if you have asbestos in your home it is important to leave the area containing asbestos alone when asbestos is sealed in a wall or covered with paint it is not a hazard the hazard occurs when the construction materials containing asbestos are broken into and the fibers are released into the air do not begin any remodeling of your home without proper inspection if you think there might be asbestos the person in this photo is not a client of baron budd 7

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i m concerned that i may have been recently exposed in my rental apartment or school what do i do if you are concerned that you were exposed to asbestos through an apartment you rent or a school you attend you should contact the environmental protection agency epa asbestos ombudsman and the asbestos coordinator through your state s environmental agency for assistance the epa has jurisdiction over asbestos exposure in schools as well as housing containing four or more units you can find their contact information on the epa s website at www.epa.gov/asbestos what is my risk of developing cancer if i worked with asbestos products years ago fortunately not everyone who works with construction or other products containing asbestos develops a related disease the percentage of people is relatively small yet there are many cases where people developed the disease after just a short-term exposure to products containing asbestos or exposure to products brought home via dust on a family member s clothing the epa has jurisdiction over asbestos exposure in schools as well as housing containing four or more units for more information go to www.epa.gov/asbestos 8

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are there tests i need to undergo if i am concerned about asbestos exposure because asbestos exposure can cause both cancer and noncancerous conditions such as asbestosis and pleural disease the national institute for occupational safety and health niosh recommends that people with a history of occupational exposure to asbestos undergo periodic health testing these tests generally include a chest x-ray and lung function tests as well as an evaluation of the patient s overall health and his or her history of asbestos exposure i do not know if the products i worked with or around contained asbestos but many of my co-workers have developed asbestosrelated diseases what were some of the types of products that contained asbestos many products have been shown to contain asbestos while the number is too large for a detailed listing here we ve listed below some of the general types of products that are known to have contained asbestos in years past for more information about asbestos-containing products visit www.mesotheliomanews.com if you are concerned about exposure to asbestos in the past and believe you should be tested please consult with your doctor our law firm devotes our asbestos practice to · drywall materials · joint compounds · plaster · certain types of paint and texture products · roofing materials · floor tiles and adhesives · gaskets · pump packings · cement pipe · pipe covering · valve packings · valves · engines · oil derrick drilling mud · elevator shaft materials · various materials on naval and merchant ships · various materials on railroad locomotives and equipment · various home and commercial construction materials what types of diseases are caused by asbestos exposure what are the symptoms asbestos exposure can cause certain forms of cancer as well as noncancerous but debilitating lung conditions generally symptoms begin as shortness of breath pain in the chest or abdomen fatigue weight loss and perhaps build-up of fluid on the wall of the lungs or abdomen representing people who have been diagnosed with asbestosrelated diseases like mesothelioma how long do these diseases take to develop asbestos-related diseases take a long time to develop in most cases the amount of time between a person s initial exposure to asbestos and the development of disease­the latency period ­can range from 15 to 30 years or even 60 years or more that is why some people who were exposed to products containing asbestos decades ago are just now developing diseases like mesothelioma 10 11

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also asbestos exposure has placed a variety of trades at certain types of workplaces at risk for development of asbestos-related diseases here is a partial list of such workplaces how much time do i have to pursue legal help if i am diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease the law provides a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for an asbestosrelated disease if you do not bring your case within the time limit­called the · construction sites · chemical plants · steel mills · shipyards · manufacturing plants · smelters · paper mills · drilling rigs­land-based and offshore statute of limitations ­you may be barred from ever seeking compensation for your injuries the amount of time you have to file a case will depend on a number of factors and differs from state to state but it is generally no more than two years from date of diagnosis if you ever are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease it is wise to contact an attorney as soon as possible in order to pursue your claim within the time limits required by law i have been tested for asbestos-related diseases and fortunately my doctor has given me a clean bill of health but i m still worried about developing an asbestos-related disease in the future do i have a legal claim based on my exposure history alone under the law of many states you can only pursue a personal injury claim for asbestos exposure if you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease in many states you may have a basis for medical monitoring and or fear of cancer claims the law provides a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for an asbestos-related disease where can i learn more you can learn more about asbestos and the diseases it causes by visiting the following websites www.mesotheliomanews.com this comprehensive website contains a wealth of information about asbestos exposure mesothelioma treatment options resources for patients and family members and up-to-date news on asbestos and mesothelioma www.epa.gov/asbestos our law firm devotes our asbestos practice to representing people who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma if you have not been diagnosed with an asbestos disease but are concerned about asbestos exposure and your legal rights we hope that the resources provided in this pamphlet are helpful to you the environmental protection agency s website has a great deal of information about asbestos exposure especially in homes and schools 12 13

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baron budd p.c main office 3102 oak lawn avenue suite 1100 dallas tx 75219 www.osha.gov the occupational safety and health organization osha s website provides comprehensive information about asbestos including safety regulations governing asbestos in the workplace 800-946-9646 info@baronbudd.com www.cdc.gov/niosh.topics/asbestos the national institute of occupational safety and health s website provides information about occupational exposure to asbestos and disease www.cpsc.gov the consumer product safety commission contains information about hazardous consumer products including products containing asbestos www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org the asbestos disease awareness organization adao is a non-profit dedicated to giving a voice to asbestos victims advocating for a ban on asbestos supporting medical research and educating the public and the medical community about asbestos www.ewg.org the environmental working group ewg is a nonprofit that has compiled a lot of research about asbestos you can find this information through the chemical index tab on their website other offices austin texas los angeles california baton rouge louisiana 14

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protecting what s right ® copyright baron budd p.c © 2010

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