The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health along with the U.S. Fire Administration will conduct a study on current and retired firefighters to determine if their is a risk of firefighters being exposed to asbestos on the job.
The study will include veiwing health records of 18,000 firefighters and will examine if their is a correlation between cancers, such as mesothelioma, and exposure to toxins on the job. Asbestos can be used in many building materials such as drywall, insulation, floor tiles and more. Asbestos, if disturbed or burned, the fibers can be released into the air. If these fibers are inhaled these fibers have been shown to lodge deep within in the lung which may lead to mesothelioma years later.
Firefighters wear protective gear while fighting fires which is usually enough to protect them from asbestos and other toxins, but if the gear is removed, the firefighter can be left unprotected to the toxins.
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos on the job and have developed mesothelioma, contact the Mesothelioma lawyers of Williams Kherkher by calling 800-781-3955.