Asbestos Exposure

Q: What if I've been exposed to asbestos?

If you are exposed to asbestos, you could develop mesothelioma or other aggressive illnesses 10-50 years later . When you work with or around asbestos-containing products, fibers could be released into the air. If these asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed, they can get trapped in the body and cause harm. Over decades, the damage done by the fibers can lead mesothelioma or other diseases to develop.

Q: How soon after asbestos exposure do you get sick?

Symptoms typically take 10-50 years to appear after asbestos exposure. This is because asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period (time between exposure and the development of symptoms). See a doctor if you have symptoms like chest pain, a cough, or shortness of breath and were exposed to asbestos decades ago. You could have an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.

Q: How much asbestos exposure is harmful?

There's no safe amount of exposure to asbestos — even being exposed once could put you at risk of long-term illnesses. That said, those at the highest risk were exposed to asbestos constantly for long spans of time.

Why Is Asbestos Exposure Dangerous?

People exposed to asbestos are at a very high risk of developing deadly illnesses like malignant mesothelioma. In fact, the only thing proven to cause mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Sadly, there's no known cure for this cancer.

Did you know?

Millions of veterans and civilians were exposed to asbestos between the 1930s and early 1980s. The risks were hidden by companies that made and sold asbestos-containing products. These companies let people get exposed to asbestos to make money.

Each year, thousands of people die from illnesses linked to asbestos exposure that occurred decades ago. It usually takes 10-50 years for the health effects of asbestos exposure to appear.

U.S. veterans are at a particularly high risk of getting sick since every military branch relied on asbestos.

Thankfully, if you are a civilian or military service member who got sick from asbestos exposure, help is available. Get a Free Case Review to learn more.

How Much Asbestos Exposure Causes Mesothelioma?

There's no safe level of asbestos exposure. Even a single asbestos fiber can cause mesothelioma later in life.

That said, those who are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos dust for long spans of time (months or years) are at the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma.

There are several factors that affect your exposure risk:

Longevity: Those exposed for a longer period of time get exposed to more asbestos.
Sturdiness: Sturdy asbestos-containing products are less likely to release fibers.
Concentration: People breathe in more asbestos if there’s a higher concentration of fibers in the air.

When asbestos fibers are disturbed, they float in the air where people can inhale or ingest them. The tiny asbestos fibers can stick to the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles, causing irritation and scarring.

Eventually, after 10-50 years, the damage from the asbestos fibers causes normal cells to become cancerous and mesothelioma tumors to start to form.

Asbestos Exposure Symptoms

Common symptoms of asbestos exposure include:

A dry cough that won't go away
Chest pain
Fatigue
Fever
Shortness of breath
Wheezing

Technically speaking, you won't experience any symptoms of asbestos exposure in and of itself. Instead, you'll develop symptoms due to the diseases caused by asbestos exposure.

Make sure to go to a doctor if you have any signs of possible asbestos exposure. Doctors can help diagnose you and provide treatments for any asbestos-related illnesses you might have.

Diseases Linked to Asbestos Exposure

People exposed to asbestos can go on to develop any number of asbestos-related diseases.

These diseases include:

Mesothelioma: This is arguably the most notable asbestos-related disease, affecting up to 3,000 people per year in the United States. Mesothelioma spreads quickly through the body and can be fatal in months without treatment.
Asbestosis: This is an inflammation of the lung caused by irritation from asbestos fibers. It's not a type of cancer but can still be very deadly.
Lung cancer: This cancer can develop if asbestos fibers are inhaled and get stuck in lung tissue.
Pleural plaques: These are buildups of a protein known as collagen in the lung lining. They aren't dangerous, but people who have them often develop more serious health problems later on.

You may qualify for compensation if you have a severe asbestos-related disease. Learn more now with a Free Case Review.

Where Did Asbestos Exposure Occur?

Exposure to asbestos could happen in a variety of locations.

Common places where asbestos exposure occurred include:

Construction sites
Chemical plants
Homes
Metalwork factories
Oil refineries
Power plants
Schools
Shipyards

Within the military, Navy ships and bases were two more common places where military personnel were exposed to asbestos.

Almost every Navy ship relied on asbestos for decades on end, and bases across the country were built with asbestos-containing materials, too.

Asbestos-Containing Materials

Before the risks were well-known, there were over 3,000 asbestos-containing products.

Common products made with asbestos included:

Cement sheeting
Clutches and brakes in cars
Drywall
Gaskets for furnaces
Heat-resistant fabric
Insulation
Millboard
Paper insulation
Pipes
Roofing and siding
Textured paint
Vinyl adhesives & floor tiles

Handling any of these asbestos-containing products could have exposed workers or military personnel, putting them at risk of mesothelioma later in life.

Types of Asbestos Exposure

Most people were exposed to asbestos through their job or military service, while others were put at risk through secondhand exposure.

Occupational Exposure

Certain occupations are at an increased risk of asbestos exposure.

These high-risk asbestos jobs include:

Auto mechanics
Construction workers
Drywall tapers
Electricians
Firefighters
Miners
Plumbers
Shipyard workers

Prior to the early 1980s, many of these workers weren't properly warned or protected from asbestos exposure on the job.

Military Exposure

U.S. veterans who served before the early 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos since the military relied on this deadly substance to make buildings, vehicles, and ships.

U.S. Navy veterans are at the highest risk since there were mandates to use asbestos on nearly every Navy ship.

Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a wide range of benefits to veterans with asbestos-related diseases. We can help you file for or increase your VA benefits after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Secondhand Exposure

Secondhand exposure to asbestos can occur among family members of people who worked with asbestos.

For example, a young woman was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma a year after her father died from asbestos-related lung cancer. He worked with asbestos as an electrician for decades and came home covered in contaminated dust, which exposed her as a child.

Environmental Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that had to be mined from the ground so companies could use it. People who lived near an asbestos mine may be at risk of exposure.

In the town of Libby, Montana, 1 in 10 people have an asbestos-related disease due to decades of mining.

Modern-Day Protection Against Asbestos Exposure

In light of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure, most job sites have stopped using this harmful substance.

Workers are now legally required to wear protective equipment when working in areas where asbestos exposure is likely (usually on older buildings, ships, or other structures).

Workplaces are currently monitored for asbestos exposure by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA also put a ban on chrysotile asbestos — the last type used in the United States — into effect in 2024, although this doesn't apply to older structures that still contain the substance.

Who’s Responsible for Your Asbestos Exposure?

The U.S. armed forces aren’t to blame for your asbestos exposure. The companies that supplied the military with asbestos-containing products are.

The risks of asbestos exposure were hidden for decades by major manufacturers. These companies knew the dangers linked to asbestos as far back as the 1930s but took no action to protect workers or military service members.

Did you know?

Fortunately, it's possible to hold these manufacturers accountable for the harm they've caused by filing private claims against them. These claims typically award $1 million or more to mesothelioma patients.

There's no way to lower the risks of getting sick if you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos, but by taking action against these companies, you'll be able to afford medical care that can hopefully help you live longer.

Help for U.S. Veterans Exposed to Asbestos

U.S. veterans who were exposed to asbestos and now have mesothelioma deserve help. The asbestos epidemic could have been avoided if manufacturers hadn't put financial gain over human life.

Thankfully, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you access all the benefits and resources you deserve. With our team's help, you can quickly file for VA benefits, connect with top doctors and treatments, and pursue compensation through private asbestos claims.

See all the ways we can help you with our Free Veterans Packet.

Asbestos Exposure FAQs

What if I've been exposed to asbestos?

If you are exposed to asbestos, you could develop mesothelioma or other aggressive illnesses 10-50 years later.

When you work with or around asbestos-containing products, fibers could be released into the air. If these asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed, they can get trapped in the body and cause harm.

Over decades, the damage done by the fibers can lead mesothelioma or other diseases to develop.

How soon after asbestos exposure do you get sick?

Symptoms typically take 10-50 years to appear after asbestos exposure.

This is because asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period (time between exposure and the development of symptoms).

See a doctor if you have symptoms like chest pain, a cough, or shortness of breath and were exposed to asbestos decades ago. You could have an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.

How long after exposure to asbestos do symptoms appear?

Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma take 10-50 years to develop after exposure.

Signs and symptoms that someone has been exposed to asbestos include:

Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dry cough that won't go away

These symptoms are shared by many asbestos-related diseases.

If you're experiencing these symptoms and were ever potentially exposed, see a doctor immediately.

How much asbestos exposure is harmful?

There's no safe amount of exposure to asbestos — even being exposed once could put you at risk of long-term illnesses.

That said, those at the highest risk were exposed to asbestos constantly for long spans of time.