Environmental Injury Lawyer, Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Alabama Injury Lawyers serving Birmingham, Montgomery, and Huntsville

Some Alabama occupations, such as construction or mining, may require workers to be around asbestos-containing products on a regular basis. While Alabama occupational exposure to asbestos affects everyone differently, contact with airborne asbestos fibers should be avoided.

Asbestos—a naturally occurring, fibrous material—is commonly used in products such as insulation, fire-proofing materials, floor and ceiling tiles, joint/spackling compounds, and roofing shingles. If contained properly, asbestos fibers don’t usually pose a health risk, but once they become damaged or disturbed they can become airborne. If asbestos fibers, which are comprised of microscopic bundles, are inhaled, they can cause severe health problems such as:

• Asbestosis. Asbestosis is a lung disease that occurs when asbestos fibers are inhaled and become trapped in lung tissue. The body tries to rid the lungs of these fibers by producing an acid to dissolve the fibers. Because the fibers are resistant to the acid, however, surrounding lung tissue can scar from the acid, resulting in significant lung damage and potential lung failure over the long term.
• Benzene. Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon produced by the burning of natural products. Benzene is either colorless or light-yellow in appearance and smells similar to gasoline. It is a component of products derived from coal and petroleum and is found in gasoline and other fuels. Benzene is widely used in the United States; it ranks in the top 20 of chemicals produced by volume.
• Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the outer lining of the lungs and chest (also known as the pleura) and the lining of the abdominal wall (also know as the peritoneum). This is the only form of cancer that results from a single cause—exposure to asbestos.
• Lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos also can lead to lung cancer and gastrointestinal tract cancer.

The latency period for symptoms to develop from these conditions can be anywhere from 15 to 40 years.

Who Is Most at Risk?

People who work in construction, mining, or other industrial occupations may be at the highest risk of developing health conditions associated with asbestos exposure. Also, people who live or work in older buildings should ask property owners about the kinds of materials used in the building and when the last time the building was inspected for health hazards. If you suspect you have been exposed to asbestos, visit your physician. Tests can be performed to determine if asbestos fibers are present in urine, feces, or mucous, and a chest X-ray can detect early signs of cancer.

Benzene

Benzene is classified as a cancer-causing agent by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is considered to be a hazardous material by the U.S. Department of Transportation, is listed as a hazardous air pollutant by the Clean Air Act and is considered to be a toxic pollutant under the Clean Water Act. [read more]

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an extremely deadly cancer of the membranes that line the abdominal cavity and internal organs. There is no cure, and the only known cause is exposure to asbestos. The cancer occurs most often in the pleura (membrane between the lungs and the ribs), but it can spread or occur locally in the lining of abdominal organs or heart as well. It has a long latency or "incubation" period, sometimes as much as 20 to 40 years. Workers exposed to airborne asbestos fibers before the dangers were well-publicized and better regulated (before the late 1970s) are still being diagnosed with this disease. Between 2,500 and 4,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with mesothelioma. [read more]

The Help You Deserve Is a Click Away

With our main office in Birmingham, Norris Injury Lawyers is situated to serve people throughout the state of Alabama, including the cities of Anniston, of Birmingham, Gadsden, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa.

If you or a loved one has experienced health problems related to asbestos exposure, contact an Alabama environmental injury lawyer at Norris Injury Lawyers today. You probably have many questions about your Alabama asbestos claim, and the attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers are here to explain your options and guide you through this difficult time.