Dangers of Asbestos Exposure Still Lurking for Auto Workers
Asbestos-Related Diseases Such as Mesothelioma Continue to Affect Hundreds of Auto Mechanics and Service Technicians Annually
May 6, 2011, Wellesley, MA – Sokolove Law, a leading provider of legal services and the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma law firm, remains at the forefront of the movement to ban asbestos in the United States and is warning auto workers about the lingering dangers of asbestos exposure. Contrary to popular belief, asbestos has not been banned in the United States and there are still asbestos-containing products manufactured and used every day. As a result, automobile trades continue to be among the most high-risk professions for developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, malignant lung cancer or asbestosis.
The automotive industry has long been considered a hazardous working environment due to the high volume of confirmed workplace exposures to carcinogens such as asbestos. Experts estimate that more than 6 million mechanics have been exposed to asbestos from brake dust since 1940, and research indicates that these exposures contribute to almost 600 asbestos-related deaths each year.
“One of the most tragic aspects of occupational asbestos exposures is that the on-site mechanics are not the only people at risk,” explains Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law. “When workers return to their homes covered in asbestos fibers, their families and loved ones are at risk of secondhand asbestos exposure, which presents the same potential health hazards as direct exposure. The sweeping dangers of asbestos really speak to the need for increased education and action to keep people safe from this material.”
Asbestos has been widely used in different car parts because of its resistance to damage from heat, friction and chemicals, as well as its flexibility and tensile strength. Brakes and clutches pose the biggest exposure threats since these parts wear down from normal use and release asbestos dust. Much of this dust gets trapped in the brake housing or clutch compartment, so when they are serviced the dust is released and creates a high potential for exposure. Other automobile products likely to contain asbestos include hood liners, gaskets, heat-seal material, valve rings and packing. While guidelines have limited the amounts of asbestos present in newer auto parts, millions of cars both new and old still have components containing asbestos.
Many health professionals familiar with asbestos-related diseases recommend that people who have spent a significant period of time working with and around automobiles get a full physical evaluation by a doctor. At-risk workers should also pay close attention to any mesothelioma symptoms, which include fluid in the lungs, chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue.
For more information on asbestos and asbestos-related diseases, visit the Mesothelioma Resource Center at www.MesoRC.com. The site is continually growing to better provide information to those currently living with or are caring for a victim of mesothelioma.
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About Sokolove Law
Sokolove Law, LLC is the nation’s largest marketer of legal services that help people obtain access to the civil justice system while ensuring they receive superior quality legal representation. With over 30 years of service, Sokolove Law has helped thousands of injured parties obtain the compensation they deserve from their legal claim such as mesothelioma, cerebral palsy, nursing home abuse, dangerous drugs, disability insurance denial, and medical malpractice cases. Sokolove Law is a national firm with 52 locations. For more information, contact PR@sokolovelaw.com.
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