Electrical Engineers - Mesothelioma Risks

For many years, asbestos seemed to be the answer to many of the construction business's problems. It made buildings safer, stronger, and provided qualities unlike any other material before its time. Anywhere asbestos could be used, someone was able to find a purpose for it. One of the many areas asbestos was used was in insulation, specifically for electrical purposes. Asbestos, being a poor conductor of electricity, heat and fire, made it very desirable.

In addition, asbestos was present in materials surrounding electrical wires and insulation, including paint, drywall and wall insulation. However, just as asbestos has had an adverse effect on the people in the construction industry, it has also taken a toll on electrical engineers, who were constantly exposed to the harmful material. Many electrical engineers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos.

It is no wonder that electrical engineers have been so heavily exposed. Their careers and the jobs they did centered around buildings and materials that contained large amounts of asbestos. From an initial site visit to the installation of electrical wires and then regular maintenance of them, asbestos was always around, and always at close range. Many electrical engineers must cut through walls, which contained asbestos in the drywall, as well as asbestos-laced insulation, just to to their jobs. Many electrical wires were also covered in asbestos insulation. Imagine an electrical engineer doing these tasks on almost a daily basis for 30 or more years. The amount of asbestos he or she has the potential of being exposed to is very high, and can be very deadly as well.

When asbestos fibers are disturbed, which is usually what happens when these electrical wires and products are being worked on, the fibers are released into the air. We can't see or feel them, but they're there. Once inhaled, these fibers get into the lining of the chest cavity, lungs and lining of other organs, where they remain for years, never being broken down. In addition to scar tissue and inflammation, the malignant cells formed by toxins contained in asbestos are ultimately what does the most harm; these toxins are what cause the malignant mesothelioma tumor to form. Although not every person who has been exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma, they are still at risk, and should meet with a doctor regularly to undergo tests and screenings for the cancer.

People who have been exposed to asbestos can decrease their chances of mesothelioma in a few ways, aside from regular doctor visits. Studies have shown that smoking, combined with the asbestos already present in the system, is extremely harmful. Maintaining a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and vitamins is another way to help stave off asbestos.

Although the newer products used by electrical engineers no longer contain asbestos, they may still come in contact with it while working, especially in older buildings that have not yet undergone asbestos removal abatement. Still, they should take precaution when working around and in any building built before 1980.

For years, asbestos companies were aware of the risks and effects of the material, yet they hid them from the public in order to keep making money. Today, they have lost everything they made. Thousands of vulnerable victims have filed personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against these companies, putting them out of business. However, they have been forced to set aside millions of dollars for future victims. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer to see if you are eligible to receive compensation for your mesothelioma.

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Workers at Risk for Asbestos Exposure

Below are a list of occupations and trades that were at risk for asbestos exposure:

Last Edited: Sun July 26, 2020