If you were exposed to asbestos it does not mean that you have or will develop an asbestos-related disease (known as an ARD). But it does mean that you should:
Asbestos diseases, like asbestosis and lung cancer, are dose-dependent. This means that high concentrations of asbestos dust exposure and/or exposure to asbestos again and again over the course of many years are more likely to lead to the development of an asbestos disease than a one-time, low-level exposure. However, there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. If you have an extensive history of asbestos exposure, be sure to let your doctor know and receive regular checkups.
Mesothelioma is also considered dose-dependent, but it is important to note that lesser amounts of asbestos dust have been associated with mesothelioma. In the early part of the century, it is likely that workers exposed to high levels of asbestos died of asbestosis well before they could develop mesothelioma. As it is a rare cancer and difficult to diagnose, many more may have died from undiagnosed mesothelioma.
One of the first studies to link asbestos with mesothelioma showed the affect asbestos dust from an asbestos dust had on those who did not work at the mine but simply lived nearby. This bystander asbestos exposure can also occur among the families of asbestos workers, who carried the dust home on their clothing.
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you should:
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