The only predictable thing about life, other than death and taxes, is that it remains unpredictable. Asbestos exposure 30 or 40 years ago may not have meant much then, but now that you suffer from an illness related to the exposure to this toxic substance, you probably want some answers. This would ordinarily be the case, but if one or more co-workers never got sick, those questions may become more urgent.
From the 1920s until around the middle of the 1970s, asbestos was widely used here in Ohio and elsewhere in many industries due to its heat resistant and insulate properties. The problem lies in that this naturally-occurring mineral is incredibly harmful to humans. If the dust and fibers are inhaled or ingested, it could turn into a deadly disease decades later. You would think that after its use was banned in many products that people would stop suffering from asbestos-related illnesses, but that is not the case.
One fairly recent example of how dangerous asbestos continues to be involved the destruction of the twin towers at the World Trade Center in New York. Many of the people there are now becoming ill and dying from the toxic materials, including asbestos, that they were exposed to on that awful day and even days thereafter. The material is inert until disturbed. People in numerous occupations who suffer from long-term exposure in contrast to the rather short-term exposure of the firefighters, rescue workers and clean-up crews on and after 9/11 may still end up suffering from exposure.
Most people believe that any exposure to asbestos is unsafe. Whether you work in a high-risk occupation or not, asbestos exposure could lead to illness years and decades afterward. Those in Ohio who believe the illness they currently suffer from resulted from exposure at some point in the past may want to discuss their rights and legal options regarding the possibility of restitution for any monetary damages sustained.
