In Wake of Hurricane Comes Risk for Asbestos Exposure

1:28 am

Individuals who have been affected by Hurricane Ike are still dealing with the after affects including exposure to asbestos fibers from destruction of homes caused by flooding.
According to the International Herald Tribune, following the hurricane, homes and roads were left with debris as well as a toxic sludge made of mud, human waste, lead, gasoline and asbestos in the wake of floodwaters, which have since receded. The potential for these fibers to dry and become airborne may be serious and could cause an increased risk of mesothelioma cancer among hurricane victims as well as nearby residents because of asbestos exposure.
What is Asbestos Exposure?
Asbestos fibers become airborne and cause the development of cancerous cells among victims. For years an exposed individual can live and behave as normal while the cancer remains dormant. However, once the symptoms begin to show, a victim usually has little success at treating the condition and the survival rate shrinks increasingly.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) described the following symptoms of mesothelioma: