New Generation of Asbestos Exposure

Article Added May 6th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

Asbestos poisoning and related illness was once thought to be an issue for industrial workers of the 1950s and 60s. But a rise in asbestos levels in new brake pads has people concerned for today’s auto mechanics.

Mesothelioma is a concern for those who worked in industrial positions in the middle of the 20^th century; or so many were led to believe. The increase of imported automobile brakes containing high levels of asbestos is now the concern of modern day mechanics. Asbestos has been known to cause the deadly lung cancer mesothelioma, and changing brake pads covered in the hazardous dusts is putting a whole new generation at risk.

Auto brakes made in the US are still monitored, but America is now importing more cars and parts from overseas. As the concern of mesothelioma tapered off, so did watch dogs monitoring imports, causing a fresh wave of possible mesothelioma cases. The dangers of working with these brakes are lost on many mechanics, though some boxes do contain warnings of the potential danger. When breathed in, the asbestos dust from worn brake pads adheres to the lining of the lungs. It sinks into the tissue, killing it and the surrounding area. The result is a condition that, years or decades after exposure, kills its victim by suffocation.

Article Added May 6th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story