Who Was Exposed to Asbestos: Asbestos Exposure and Asbestos-related Diseases

People employed in the building and construction trades prior to the mid-1970's may have worked with or around many different types of asbestos-containing products. In addition, North Carolina workers who were employed in power plants, textile mills, and other industrial work sites where there were boilers and thermal insulation could have been exposed to asbestos.

Family members of these NC workers may have had so-called secondhand exposure to asbestos dust from household activities such as washing the worker’s clothing or, even more unexpectedly, from giving their spouse or children a welcome-home hug each day when they were still in their clothes laden with asbestos dust.

The most common asbestos cancers and diseases are malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related cancers such as lung cancer, and pulmonary asbestosis.

A very important characteristic of asbestos-related cancers and diseases is the long delay, or latency period, between the asbestos exposure and the onset of disease. It is usually at least 15 years, and sometimes as long as 40 or 50 years, after the person’s first exposure to asbestos before an asbestos-related condition develops in the exposed person.

Because of this latency period, people in North Carolina exposed to asbestos many years ago are still at risk, now and in the future, to develop mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

To get legal compensation for cases involving mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, or asbestosis, one can file an asbestos lawsuit and / or a North Carolina workers' compensation claim.

Under North Carolina law there are filing deadlines that determine the time period within which one must file their asbestos lawsuit. An asbestos personal injury case must be filed within three years from the date of diagnosis. An asbestos wrongful death case must be filed within two years from the date of death.

A North Carolina asbestos workers’ compensation claim must be filed within two years from the date of diagnosis of the asbestos-related condition or two years from the date of the worker's death.