Who is most at risk for asbestosis?
People who are most at risk for asbestosis are people who work in trades where they are exposed to inhaled or to ambient or airborne asbestos particles for prolonged periods of time. We are talking about months or years. We are not talking about a single exposure to asbestos. The trades that are most at risk are people who deal with this today. Many older schools and older buildings are trying to rid asbestos from the walls and from the ceilings, and the individuals who tear this stuff out, who do the reconstruction, who do the remodeling are literally tearing down asbestos boards. All of these asbestos particles and fibers are becoming airborne, and if those individuals aren't properly protected then they are at significant risk for developing asbestos-related disease. Asbestos use in the United States peaked in the 1970s. That's when it was mined the most heavily. Obviously going back to the 1960s and 70s, individuals who might have been involved in the mining of and the collection and distribution of asbestos are also at risk. Because the development of asbestos-related diseases typically has a lag factor of anywhere from 20-40 years, individuals who were exposed in the 60s and 70s are actually coming to medical attention now in this day and age and it is actually predicted by the CDC that the maximum or peak of asbestos-related lung disease will occur between the years of 2010 and 2020.
