Short-term asbestos exposure is defined as asbestos exposure occurrences that range from a few hours to a few days. There are some devastating and big-scale incidents, such as being exposed to dangerous chemicals and substances during the 9/11 attacks, which may affect people’s health in the long term. However, in most cases, the health risks associated with short-term asbestos exposure is minimally small.
According to statistics, thousands of deaths are caused by asbestos-related diseases in United States each year. In addition, the International Commission of Occupational Health reported a massive number of nearly 40 000 deaths which are due to previous exposure to asbestos in United States in 2016.
It is extremely beneficial for us to be aware of the risks and hazards of being exposed to asbestos, It is also understandable if you experienced asbestos exposure before and felt anxious. However, it is crucial that you learn and understand the different range and extent of asbestos exposure.
Is There a Safe Amount of Asbestos that I can Possibly be Exposed to?
It should be known that being exposed to asbestos is dangerous, regardless of the amount. It is of utmost importance to don the appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) before being exposed to harmful particles such as asbestos.
In most cases, people usually contract asbestos-related diseases only after decades of being exposed to asbestos frequently and repeatedly. Being exposed to a high amount of asbestos fibres in a short period of time can also increase a person’s risk of getting an asbestos-related disease in his or her later years.
What are the Adverse Effects of a Single Occasion of Asbestos Exposure?
Normally, being exposed to asbestos for just a single occasion is not a big concern unless you can visibly see the air becoming very dusty and cloudy. Typically, it takes many years of constant exposure to asbestos to contract asbestos-related diseases.
If you suspect that you were being exposed to asbestos, do not worry too much and remain calm. You will not experience any physical health problems straight away and in the event that it affects you, signs and symptoms will only manifest many years later. It is important to inform your family doctor of this particular incident to ensure that it is recorded in your medical history.
How you should Defend yourself Against Asbestos Exposure
There are many employees in United States that are at risk of asbestos exposure during work. For example, firefighters and demolition workers may experience occupational asbestos exposure during their work in run-down buildings. While repairing vehicles sourced from overseas locations, mechanics may also be at risk of asbestos exposure.
There are many different ways to prevent asbestos exposure which include being knowledgeable on the different types of products that are known to contain asbestos, such as pipes and brakes lines. If you have doubts as to whether a building contains asbestos fibres, you should seek help from experts who can conduct air quality checks or monitoring. Such experts may also specialize in asbestos removal to ensure that asbestos is eliminated before the space is used for commercial purposes.