Asbestos protects against heat, flame, chemicals, and electricity, so it is no wonder that it quickly became a component of everything from concrete to ceiling tiles in the modern world. However, in the 1950s, doctors realized that asbestos is almost the sole cause of a deadly cancer called mesothelioma, as well as other diseases like asbestosis. Frighteningly, one source of asbestos is the water supply.
Many people do not consider asbestos a threat anymore since it was mostly banned and very strictly regulated starting in the 1980s. However, this dangerous mineral is still very much a part of older buildings and pipelines, since it was too difficult to replace all of the asbestos-laden products found in structures completed before the ban.
One dangerous source of asbestos is the water supply. Large water mains that run throughout municipalities were often made of asbestos-reinforced concrete. Due to the strength and flexibility of these fibers, it was once considered a beneficial additive. Now, though, as these water mains get older and older, the asbestos can break down and leach into the water supply.
You can absorb asbestos fibers either by inhalation or ingestion. If the carcinogenic fiber leaches into your drinking water, you can ingest the particles. They can then become lodged into your throat, esophagus, and entire gastrointestinal system. It can also spread to your kidneys. This is why everything from stomach cancer to kidney cancer can be caused by exposure to asbestos.
You can also come into contact with asbestos through inhalation. For instance, if you are taking a hot shower, the steamy air can carry microscopic fibers. When you inhale the steam, the particles can stick in your throat and lungs, where you can develop mesothelioma.
If you believe that you have come into contact with asbestos, you should get more information regarding the risks of developing mesothelioma and other disorders. For more information regarding asbestos and mesothelioma, contact a mesothelioma lawyer to tell you more about your rights as a mesothelioma patient or family member of a mesothelioma victim.
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