»

Mississippi

In Mississippi there are several industries that are considered to be related to high exposure risk to asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers are carcinogenic, they can lead to the development of mesothelioma in exposed persons, a malignant cancer that spreads if left unchecked. This cancer is incurable. A more treatable ailment, though without treatment can be deadly, is asbestosis. Also directly related to asbestos exposure, this illness leads to reduced lung function and scar tissue development in the lungs. Those that have been exposed to asbestos should be in contact with a health professional that is aware of the exposure and the diseases that result from asbestos exposure so that they can keep their health monitored and act quickly should the symptoms start to emerge. This can be a daunting task, as the symptoms can take decades to reveal themselves.

Shipyards

In shipyards there was both the need to insulate and fireproof, as well as the need to protect the employees from the blast furnaces and extreme temperatures that they were exposed to. The natural answer in the day that most were constructed was asbestos, as this was the miraculous substance that was readily available and could economically insulate and provide fireproofing. Everyone used it, and when it started to age and crumble and fray the persons that were working closely with it would be exposed. The persons that worked on the ships themselves were also at high risk as it was lavishly employed in the insulation, as well as the construction of ceilings, walls, and floors below deck, as a fire in open water is every sailor’s worse nightmare. Now that nightmare is the development of lung disease as their daily exposure is starting to take its toll.

Oil Refineries

There are several oil refineries present in Mississippi. Oil refineries needed to insulate tanks from exposure to temperature extremes, and they needed to keep the workers safe from exposure to extreme heat. As with the ship building industry, the most natural insulator of the day was asbestos. As with every other industry, nobody knew that as these materials began to show wear and expose the underlying fibers that everyone praised for it's fabulous properties, they also were exposed to asbestos inhalation which was, and is, a very dangerous carcinogen. Asbestos exposure has been directly tied to oil refineries. Employees of these refineries should be watchful of their health for the onset of asbestos related illnesses.

Just as with the rest of the country, one of the highest rates of exposure is from construction debris. The workers on construction sites were not aware of the risks that they were exposing themselves to as they were installing panels of asbestos products in ceilings, walls and floors of private and municipal buildings. The workers that performed demolition would be the highest risk of all, as they spent their work day tearing apart these panels of asbestos, inhaling the debris, and then carrying home the dust that resulted from this demolition to their homes in their hair and on their clothing to expose their families.

Those that begin to exhibit symptoms of any asbestos related health condition should find a legal professional to help them identify the steps that they need to take in getting compensation for the medical care that they need as a result of exposure.

Last modified: December 09 2009.