Kansas
Kansas falls lower than the national average in it's reported asbestos related deaths. Asbestos inhalation can cause serious illnesses, two that are directly asbestos related are mesothelioma, which is an aggressive malignant cancer directly attributed to the carcinogenic fibers of asbestos being introduced to the body, and the other is asbestosis, in which scarring of the lung occurs and reduces the overall ability of the lung to function. Though there were three small asbestos mines that operated sporadically in the history of Kansas, it has primarily been an agricultural state.
Asbestos Mining
Obviously, if you are mining asbestos you are at the highest risk of being exposed. Mining is an industry that is notorious for poor ventilation, and if you are mining asbestos in an environment with poor ventilation, then the odds are good that you have inhaled it throughout your day. Even protective nose and mouth gear would not have kept the wearer from inhaling a dangerous quantity of asbestos. The fibers that were in the dust floating around their heads were heavily contaminated with this carcinogenic fiber, and the danger didn't stop there. When the miners returned home they would remove their clothing and gear and his wife and family would be exposed to the dust from contact with him and his clothing.
Power Generation Plants
If you want to find a location that has been a source of asbestos exposure in every state, then you can look to power generation plants. The plants had been constructed in a time when we were unaware of the dangers of asbestos, and the people that worked there did not know that the protective clothing that they wore when they were on shift were also the source of dangerous exposure to asbestos. Asbestos fiber was common in protective clothing to insulate and protect workers, and when it started to show signs of wear it was not necessarily replaced, that was when this equipment became dangerous. Power plants also used asbestos insulation for pipes and wiring as it was a good heat retardant and it insulated electricity well, but aging insulation crumbled leaving the workplace flooded with potential risks of exposure.
Oil Refineries
Kansas is home to its share of oil refineries. Oil refineries are as much an offender in asbestos exposure as power generation plants. The asbestos was put to work in these refineries for much the same reasons, its ability to insulate heat, to insulate electricity, and to retard fire. Persons that worked in oil refineries would wear entire asbestos suits to keep themselves safe from heat and flame. From insulated tanks to wrapping pipes there were signs of asbestos everywhere in oil refineries. As soon as any product containing asbestos would wear in any way, the risk skyrocketed for exposure to the fibers.
Asbestos was used widely in homes, industry and municipal buildings including schools and hospitals, and if you feel that you may have been exposed then you should report the exposure to your primary care doctor so that they may be watchful for developments related to asbestosis and mesothelioma. Ailments from asbestos exposure can take several years, even decades, to reveal themselves. If you should suffer any injuries that are asbestos related, you should get legal help immediately to find out if you are eligible to get remedies that may help you pay for your long term care.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
