Asbestos-containing materials can cause mesothelioma cancer or lung cancer if the materials are disturbed through maintenance or construction projects.

Commercial buildings that were built long ago are apt to have asbestos in floor tiles, sheet vinyl, backing materials and adhesives.

Up until the 1970s, asbestos was popular because of its fireproof, resilient aspects.

The Veteran Memorial Hall in California is currently planned for an asbestos abatement project due to the flooring that has deteriorated over the years.

The material underneath the top coating is known to consist of asbestos-containing materials, and the fibers can be airborne if they are disturbed.

“Asbestos is still found in many homes and buildings across California. Unless materials are labeled, which they seldom are, the only way to know if they contain asbestos is to have them tested. Air, dust and surface sampling can help to determine if people are being exposed to asbestos fibers. In many circumstances, there are regulations in place that require testing before a project takes place that could disturb asbestos-containing materials.,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility.

Who Is at Risk of Asbestos-containing Materials?

People employed in certain jobs have traditionally had greater risk of asbestos exposure. U.S. Navy, U.S. Military, shipyards workers, auto mechanics, paper mill workers, construction workers and linotype technicians could have been exposed at their workplace and not even realize it.

Family members of these workers could have been exposed to second-hand introduction of deadly asbestos fibers when the workers came home with fibers on their clothing, which other family members could shake out to remove the fiber dust and then launder.

Anyone renovating a home built before the 1980s could be exposed if working with asbestos-containing materials such as insulation, cement, drywall, electrical insulation, ceiling tiles, floor tiles and other construction items.

These building materials are normally not a risk in their final state, but once they are cut, the asbestos fibers enter the air where they can be inhaled.

Asbestos-containing Products in Schools

Nearly half of U.S. schools were built between 1950 and 1969 when, during construction, builders used asbestos in schools. Often used to sound-proof auditoriums and as an insulation, asbestos-containing materials are not dangerous until they are disturbed.

In 2013, the U.K.’s Committee on Carcinogenicity published research that showed a five-year-old child’s lifetime risk of developing mesothelioma is five times greater than that of a 30-year-old adult who has been exposed to asbestos.

As far back as the 1980s, the U.S. estimated approximately 1,000 early deaths related to asbestos exposure would happen over the next 30 years, and 90 percent would be people exposed to asbestos in schools when they were children.

Maintenance work can disturb asbestos particles, especially in areas where the materials have aged and become friable and dust-like. Teachers and students are at risk for asbestos problems they could develop in the future.

If you suffer from asbestos-related diseases, you could benefit from speaking with an attorney about your rights to compensation.