Asbestos Exposure and Landscapers: Risks and Prevention
It’s a sad reality of the history of asbestos in this country that individuals working in certain professions were more likely to be exposed than others. In this way, the damage that asbestos did to society was particularly unequal and unfair – those who did manual work in a wide range of industries were exposed to asbestos at a rate far higher than the general population.
One of the fields of work that tends to have above-average exposure to asbestos is landscaping. Those working in the landscaping profession can end up being around products including asbestos in a few different ways, and some of those might not be entirely obvious at first. In some ways, asbestos exposure for landscapers can be a bit sneaky, as the exposure risk isn’t as evident as it is with something like mining or even working in an industrial plant. The risk exists just the same, however, so let’s take a closer look at the issue below.
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If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos, even as a child, speak to a healthcare provider about tests and screening to help diagnose lung-scarring and screen for asbestos-related diseases.
What is Asbestos, Anyway?
Many have heard the term “asbestos” before but aren’t quite sure what it is. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in various industries for its desirable properties.
But what makes asbestos so special?
In simple terms, asbestos is a fibrous material that is resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals. It’s also an excellent insulator, making it a popular choice for construction materials. These durable fibers can be found in products like insulation and ductwork, roofing materials, flooring tiles, and even car brakes.
However, despite its widespread use, asbestos is highly dangerous to human health. The tiny fibers that makeup asbestos can become airborne when materials containing the mineral are disturbed. When inhaled or swallowed, these fibers can become lodged in the body and cause serious health issues.
The health risks of asbestos exposure
Exposure to asbestos has been linked to diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other respiratory problems. These conditions can take years or even decades to develop, making it crucial to understand the risks associated with asbestos exposure and take appropriate precautions long before any symptoms surface.
Thus, while asbestos has desirable properties for industrial purposes, it poses a significant threat to human health. Understanding what asbestos is and the risks it carries is essential to ensure the safety of individuals working with or near asbestos-containing materials.
“The overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.”Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)1 |
Why Was Asbestos So Popular?
Viewed from a more modern perspective, it seems curious that asbestos was ever such a commonly used material in a variety of industrial settings. Rolling the clock back, however, it seemed at the time like a major advancement when companies started to see just how effective this material could be in a range of products and applications. To be sure, asbestos use would still be widespread today if it didn’t prove to have such a disastrous impact on human health.
People who worked in these industries prior the mid-1980s have a higher risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
| Construction | Factories | Foundries | Refineries | Shipyards | Mining / Milling |
| Demolition | Insulation | Steelworkers | Pipe Fitting | Shipbuilding | Mechanics |
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| Roofing | Textiles | Iron workers | Boilers | Firefighting | Brake Repair |
| Flooring | Cement | Electricians | Gasket Repair | Railroad | HVAC |
Unfortunately so do their families.
Asbestos and the Landscaping Industry
For landscapers, the risk of asbestos exposure wasn’t so much found directly in the work they were doing each day, but rather, in what they were around while doing that work. For example, when removing old components of a property to make way for a new landscaping project, it’s possible that a landscaper could be exposed to insulation around pipes that included asbestos, or they may have encountered it in the form of vermiculite (more on that later).
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The Many Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Again, asbestos exposure poses significant risks to human health, making it a cause for concern. The microscopic fibers released into the air when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed can have serious consequences when inhaled or swallowed. Here are some of the risks associated with both direct and second-hand exposure:
The most serious and harmful consequence of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It has a long latency period, often taking 20 to 50 years for symptoms to appear, making early detection and effective treatment challenging.
Lung Cancer
Prolonged exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Smokers who are exposed to asbestos face an even higher risk. Symptoms may include persistent cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers. It results in lung tissue scarring, leading to breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, and chest tightness. Asbestosis can progress over time and may cause respiratory failure.
The severity of these conditions will vary from case to case, but asbestos in any amount can cause serious respiratory damage and even cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma.
If an individual was only exposed to a modest amount of asbestos for a short period of time, the damage could be minimal. Unfortunately, someone who was exposed for a period of many years, and worked in direct contact with this mineral, is at serious risk of major health consequences.
“Some asbestos fibers may bypass…your body’s natural defenses…and lodge deep within your lungs. Those fibers can remain in place for a very long time and may never be removed.”Source: American Lung Association |
Vermiculite and Asbestos Risk
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral commonly used in gardening and insulation due to its lightweight and fire-resistant properties. In the past, some vermiculite was mined from deposits that were contaminated with asbestos fibers. Given the health risks that we have already discussed above, the issues that arose when asbestos got involved with vermiculite should be obvious.
As a result of this issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now advises caution when dealing with vermiculite insulation produced before 1990, as it may contain asbestos. Additionally, vermiculite obtained from the Libby mine in Montana has been associated with asbestos contamination.
Asbestos causes cancer. Health researchers are learning how.
Studies show that asbestos fibers embed in the bodily tissue:
Causing scarring
Disrupting the body’s defense mechanisms
Increasing formation of free-radicals (electrical charges known to increase the likelihood of cancer)
Harming DNA that controls cellular growth, potentially leading to the formation of carcinomas (cancerous tumors)
Vermiculite is often contaminated with asbestos, posing health risks for miners, their families, and anyone living near the mine or mill.
While vermiculite itself is not inherently dangerous, the potential presence of asbestos in certain vermiculite products underscores the need for caution. That is particularly important for people who work in professions like landscaping, where they may be exposed to contaminated vermiculite on a consistent basis.
“Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure.”Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)1 |
A Long Delay
Asbestos diseases may not appear for decades after exposure.
Why are people still dealing with asbestos-related health problems long after its use has largely been discontinued? A big part of the issue, in addition to the fact that asbestos is still around in various places, is that people who are exposed don’t typically start to show symptoms until many years down the road. The lag between exposure and illness is often decades, and as a result, many people don’t figure out that the health problems that they have today are actually connected to the work they did decades earlier, or even that a family member did when they were still young.
Do You Qualify For Compensation?
Quickly and easily find out how you were exposed by searching W.A.R.D., the largest asbestos database on the planet.
FREE SEARCH >Exploring Legal Options for Landscapers with Asbestos Claims
Exposure to asbestos can lead to life-changing health complications that no one should have to experience. If this is the position you find yourself or a loved one in currently, looking closely at your legal options is an important step in the right direction.
The good news here is that there are a couple of primary pathways to explore for compensation. These can apply whether an individual was exposed to asbestos in the construction industry or in another field. One option is simply to file a lawsuit.
An asbestos lawsuit will be the most challenging and time-consuming approach, but it also has the most significant potential in terms of compensation. If you are willing to go through the potential battle of a lawsuit to fight for what is yours, significant rewards could be available.
| Even lifelong smokers can collect compensation for asbestos damage. | |
 | Many of our clients believed they weren’t eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit because they were cigarette and cigar smokers. This isn’t true under the laws of many states. Our database contains the medical evidence needed to show that smokers who are exposed to asbestos are far more likely to develop cancer than smokers who weren’t exposed to asbestos. Cigarettes and asbestos are far more dangerous than cigarettes or asbestos. |
| Even lifelong smokers can collect compensation for asbestos damage. |
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| Many of our clients believed they weren’t eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit because hey were cigarette and cigar smokers. This isn’t true under the laws of many states. Our database contains the medical evidence needed to show that smokers who are exposed to asbestos are far more likely to develop cancer than smokers who weren’t exposed to asbestos. Cigarettes and asbestos are far more dangerous than cigarettes or asbestos. |
Asbestos Trusts: Asbestos compensation without a lawsuit.
Alternatively, you might pursue a claim with an existing asbestos trust. These trusts have been established to streamline the claims process and help people more quickly get the damages they deserve. It’s still vital to prove a trust case in order to earn damages, but the path tends to be far easier than when trying to win a lawsuit.
Over $30 Billion is still available (No lawsuit. No fees unless you receive money. No risk.) Stake your claim.  |
Asbestos claims through a trust generally have no delay, court fees, depositions or risk.
Anyone who has worked in landscaping, especially those who have been in the field for an extended period of time, should consider the possibility that they have been exposed to asbestos. Pursuing legal options to recover damages for the harm experienced on the job is worthwhile, even if it’s difficult to determine where to start at first. Work with a qualified and experienced attorney on this matter to learn more about what options are on the table.
AsbestosClaims.Law
Asbestos claims aren’t just a day in the office for Justinian C. Lane.
They’re a mission.
In the past, workers exposed to asbestos were kept in the dark about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Among those workers were Justinian’s grandparents and his own father.
Unfortunately, they were also kept in the dark about the compensation options available to them, such as asbestos lawsuits and trust funds. In their later years, they died from asbestos-related cancers.
Because no one in Justinian’s family knew their options, they never received any compensation for the death of their loved ones.
Today, we’re working to turn the tide.
Significant compensation may be available to you if you have contracted an asbestos-related illness or injury. This includes workers as well as family members who have been exposed.
Compensation is your key to receiving the medical treatment you need, funding asbestos removal services, and maintaining your physical well-being.
Want to know one of the quickest and easiest ways to receive compensation? Let us talk to you about asbestos trust claims. This option can often avoid lawsuits altogether.
We want to hear your story, and more importantly, we want to bring redemption to it.
Need help filing a claim? No problem, you can email us at [email protected].
Would you rather talk over the phone? Simply call or text us, at (206) 455-9190.
You won’t pay a penny to us unless you receive money first, so there’s no risk.
In addition to legal claims, veterans disability, social security and employment protection like workers compensation, FELA and The Jones Act for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.
The dangers of asbestos used to be an industry-guarded secret kept from suffering people like Justinian’s family. Not anymore. We’re bringing you the truth.
We’ve created numerous resources to help answer your questions and empower you with the information you need to know and act on.
Our website has a wealth of information dedicated to things like health and safety, asbestos testing, asbestos removal, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.
Are you a visual learner? No problem!
Our YouTube page has infographics, an asbestos history series, and other helpful resources for you to check out!
| Not sure where or when you were exposed to asbestos? Let W.A.R.D. help you! The Worldwide Asbestos Research Database (W.A.R.D) is the largest asbestos information database, period. If you need answers related to specific locations, products, or what type of compensation may be available to you due to asbestos exposure, W.A.R.D. is the place to start. |
Working with us is risk-free. Unless you receive compensation money, there are NO FEES! Speak to us about asbestos litigation today.
1 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.
2 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5882659/
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/docs/limitingenvironmentalexposures_factsheet-508.pdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/noa/docs/Asbestos-workers.pdf
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P1005HTF.TXTpdf
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/noa/docs/Asbestos-FAQ_ENG_web.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/faqs/search/topics/asbestos-and-school-buildings-315213/topics/work-practice-standards-315263
http://www.jeaht.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.36278/jeaht.24.1.35
http://www.jeaht.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.36278/jeaht.24.1.35
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935122007022
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ali-Karakhan-2/publication/359066372_Impact_of_Green_Construction_on_Safety_Performance_in_the_Built_Environment/links/623ad96895678e2612852a95/Impact-of-Green-Construction-on-Safety-Performance-in-the-Built-Environment.pdf