Exposed to Asbestos at a Young Age
Due to the long latency period that often occurs before symptoms of mesothelioma begins to manifest itself in its victims, a diagnosis of the disease may in some cases be related to exposure to asbestos that occurred decades earlier while the patient was a youth.
For years, many children with parents who worked in environments that contained asbestos products were exposed to asbestos fibers that were tracked into the home on clothes that were not properly cleaned following a day of work.
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As a result, families connected with industries such as construction, automobiles, shipbuilding, and metal craftsmanship may have exposed their children to asbestos fibers throughout their youth.
In addition to possible exposure at the home, the use of asbestos-containing materials such as thermal insulate and in fire-resistant products at schools across the country led to decades-worth of children possibly being exposed to the fiber as well. It was not until the passing of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), a provision of the Toxic Substances Control Act, in 1986 that schools were mandated to inspect their buildings and “prevent or reduce asbestos hazards,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
While efforts have been put in place to limit the number of products that contain asbestos, exposure of the fibers to minors has continued well into the 2000s. During the 2007 holiday season, a number of popular children’s toys, including the CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit and the Art Skills Clay Bucket were revealed to contain asbestos fibers by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.
Additionally, in July 2009, a former maintenance supervisor at Harrah’s Las Vegas sued the hotel and casino after alleging that he had been exposed to asbestos at the hotel during renovations. The hotel had been notified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that it was in violation of a number of requirements involving asbestos exposure and usage.
However, in addition to the health problems that he suspected were caused by asbestos exposure, the employee also alleged that his three-year-old son may have developed respiratory problems from asbestos fibers that were unknowingly brought home on his work clothing.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos as a Youth?
If you were exposed to asbestos as a youth, you may be entitled to financial compensation. To learn more about your options and to schedule a legal consultation, please contact one of our asbestos attorneys for a free, no-obligation evaluation to see if a mesothelioma lawsuit is a possibility.