Posted on October 15, 2012

3-Part Blog Series about Health Literacy

Part One: How Can You Prevent Home, School, and Workplace Asbestos Exposure? (Oct 8)

Part Two: What Are the High-Risk Occupations for Asbestos Exposure? (Oct 15)

Part Three: What Are the Early Warning Symptoms of Asbestos Disease? (Oct 22)

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 9 out of 10 adults have difficulty using the everyday health information that is routinely available to them. To address this problem, October is Health Literacy Month. In light of Health Literacy Month’s “Take Action” theme this year, ADAO is featuring three weekly blogs with information about preventing asbestos exposure (Oct. 8), high-risk occupations (Oct. 15), and early warning symptoms of asbestos disease (Oct. 22). These blogs address the frequently asked questions that we have received during the last nine years. Unfortunately, asbestos is still legal and lethal in the U.S.; the U.S. Geological Survey reported that the U.S. consumed 1,180 metric tons of asbestos in 2011 “to meet manufacturing needs.”

Occupations with a high risk of asbestos exposure include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Workers involved in the manufacture of asbestos products
  • Asbestos mining and milling
  • Construction trades (including insulators, sheet metal workers, electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, and carpenters)
  • Power plant workers
  • Boilermakers
  • Shipyard workers
  • Firefighters
  • Teachers
  • Veterans

Asbestos disease occurs 10 – 50 years after exposure.  You could develop symptoms as an adult if you were exposed as a child to a parent who came home with asbestos dust on his or her clothing. Early symptoms are generally vague and can be confused with other illnesses, such as pneumonia. If you are concerned that you might be experiencing asbestos disease symptoms, talk to your doctor about possible occupational or environmental asbestos exposure.  Only a doctor can properly diagnose asbestos-related diseases.

Please read and share the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s “Asbestos Fact Sheet” about asbestos exposure in the workplace.

To access more information about symptoms, refer to the National Cancer Institute’s “Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk” Fact Sheet and visit us again next week for our third Health Literacy Month blog: Early Warning Symptoms.

Also, Take Action during Health Literacy Month by completing ADAO’s Online Mesothelioma Survey.  It only takes five minutes to share your recommendations, knowledge and experience as a mesothelioma patient or caregiver. Click here to complete the “Supportive Resources in the Mesothelioma Community” Survey.

In unity,

Linda

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