Construction Workers & Asbestos Exposure / Mesothelioma

People working in the construction industry in the past used many products that exposed them to asbestos. From insulation, to welding rods, to floor and ceiling tiles, anyone working in construction faced asbestos exposure on a regular basis. Since the mid 1970’s the government has stepped in and imposed regulations that provide some level of protection for workers today. Unfortunately regulations get broken either intentionally or by accident. A recent news story even identified a school in New York that taught improper methods for handling asbestos, and helped its students cheat on state certification exams (1).

There are two main avenues for asbestos exposure for today’s construction worker. The first is exposure to asbestos from new products being used in construction. Although many people believe that asbestos is banned within the United States, this is not correct. In fact, though it is becoming less common, asbestos is still used in roofing, flooring, and appliances (2). As recently as 2001, the United States used 26 million pounds of asbestos in new products (3). The second type of exposure comes from remediation of old construction where asbestos was used in everything from paneling to insulation. When construction workers go into old buildings they are potentially exposed to old asbestos that becomes airborne during the remodeling or destruction process.

Asbestos has been used for centuries because of its resistance to heat and fire. Even as early as during the Roman Empire, people had noticed that those who worked most with asbestos suffered from lung disease and difficult breathing. It’s use, however, went on virtually unregulated until the 1970’s. Worldwide, asbestos has been banned in more than 40 countries, but so far it is still allowed in the United States. Hopefully that will soon change. There is a current bill pending in the United States congress that passed committee in July of 2007, which would ban asbestos in the United States within two years if the bill gets signed into law (3). Even if the bill does become law, however, it does not protect people from asbestos that is already in place. Looking at all forms of asbestos exposure; OSHA has estimated that 1.3 million laborers and construction workers are still working under conditions where they face on the job asbestos exposure (5).

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that flakes easily when it is manipulated. The fibers and asbestos dust become airborne where anyone in the vicinity can inhale them. Once in the lungs, the body cannot expel the fibers. The fibers and dust cause irritation that eventually leads to scarring. Asbestos causes numerous diseases, some of which are almost always fatal. Asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma are the most common problems. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura, the lining of the chest cavity and lungs. The majority of people diagnosed with mesothelioma die within one year of receiving the diagnosis (5).

One of the problems with asbestos diseases is that in the early stages there are few, if any symptoms. Most of the diseases take 20 or even 30 years to manifest after exposure to asbestos. After so many years, most people have put the asbestos exposure to the back of their minds. Even when they suffer from a cough or shortness of breath, they may not associate the problem with asbestos. Mesothelioma is not curable, though if caught early enough it can be surgically removed. After it has spread, however, the treatment treats the symptoms as much as the underlying problem. At that point chemotherapy and radiation primarily help with pain, and slow down the progression of the cancer. Given the seriousness of the problem, anyone who has ever worked in the construction industry would be well advised to get a complete physical and maintain a close watch on the person’s health to catch any disease in its beginning stages.

'Construction Workers & Asbestos Exposure / Mesothelioma' Resources:
  1. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, Aug 14 2007, (Online Article) Weitz & Luxenberg Responds to Fraudulent Asbestos Training School
  2. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, (Online Article) What is Asbestos?
  3. Senator Patty Murray; 2007; Asbestos,