Exposure to asbestos can be extremely harmful. Severe injuries may occur that are often precursors to cancers or asbestosis. Being exposed to asbestos means that the air is contaminated with the toxic fibers of this material and anyone on site or close proximity is at a health risk. Asbestos injuries are typically seen in individuals who were in contact with the substance frequently over periods of time. There are certain occupations which are per se at a higher risk of getting injured by asbestos exposure, for example in construction, railroad, building supply manufacturing, mining and shipyard industries. But not only are the workers themselves at a higher risk of developing an asbestos induced disease. Even their family members may get in contact with the material as the worker’s clothes and shoes might be contaminated with microscopic dust particles. As asbestos is being inhaled or ingested by a person, severe and fatal health conditions may occur, sometimes even years or decades after the actual exposure. Diseases that are linked back to asbestos are lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestosis is an asbestos injury that is not cancerous, yet, in and of itself still very serious and difficult to treat. Mesothelioma is a deadly disease as a treatment is yet to be found. It is a form of cancer that starts to develop in the mesothelium, which is the outer lining of the lungs, and then progresses to spread further. Often dormant for decades, a person who is diagnosed with mesothelioma often has only months to live. Unfortunately, the risk of suffering asbestos injuries by being exposed to the material, is and was known for many years. Nevertheless, a lot of employers simply fail to install the adequate safety measurements. And in my opinion the government did also fail, because it should have enforced safety rules and regulations more strictly. If you think that you’ve been exposed to asbestos it is certainly a good idea to make an appointment with a specialized health care professional to schedule a medical examination.