Bystander exposure occurs when someone is in an area where other
people are using asbestos or asbestos-containing products. Many people
are exposed to asbestos as "bystanders." Asbestos fibers are extremely
small and the slightest disturbances can cause any loose asbestos to
become airborne. Once they are released, these invisible fibers spread
through the air and are inhaled by everyone in the area.
In many cases, bystander exposure is an indirect form of occupational
exposure. When a Navy seaman stood watch on a ship being repaired at a
shipyard, he was exposed to all the asbestos released by the work of
the shipyard workers. Likewise, a carpenter working at a construction
site could be exposed to asbestos insulation and drywall from the
plasterers working nearby. Even people in clerical or managerial
positions could have significant bystander exposure if they worked at
jobsites where other people were using asbestos products.
Bystander exposure can also occur when someone, such as a deliveryman
or a maintenance worker, regularly passes through a site where asbestos
products were used. Bystanders can have significant exposure to
asbestos and are at risk for mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other
asbestos-related diseases.
No comments:
Post a Comment