Chances are, you have heard the term asbestos and you know that it can hurt you. Asbestos is a mineral that was commonly used in construction through the mid 1970s. It was often used in insulation products, found in homes, office buildings, schools and ship yards. Experts generally believe that certain levels of asbestos exposure can make you sick, and in some cases can kill you.

One Montana community is now more familiar with asbestos issues than its residents would like. According to published reports, experts are examining hundreds of cases of possible asbestos related exposure in a former mining community. Residents fear that asbestos residue from former mining operations has caused some people to become ill. Some may have even died as a result.

The Montana story raises another interesting problem: that of "stigma." Residents are worried that word of these concerns, whether the concerns prove justified or not, may affect property values and tourism. While State officials are currently engaged in testing and it will be some time before any definitive conclusions can be reached, residents fear that the mere perception of asbestos poisoning may cause economic damage.

According to information provided by the California Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen. This means that it is a substance capable of causing cancer.

One of the most common kinds of asbestos is called chrysolite asbestos. There are other kinds of asbestos as well and government officials generally consider all kinds to be hazardous. Generally, officials maintain that there are no safe exposure levels of asbestos.

While no exposure levels are regarded as safe, generally, experts seem to feel that the risk of disease depends upon the intensity of exposure and the duration. Asbestos fibers can remain in a victim's lungs and body. This can lead to scarring and can cause a variety of sicknesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and another cancer called mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure has also been linked with cancer of the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum.

I recently had an opportunity to ask Eric Scholnick questions about asbestos disease. A partner in Los Angeles' Lewis and Scholnick, this lawyer specializes in representing people who have become sick as a result of asbestos exposure. He has been doing so since 1981.

Here is one piece of alarming news. Even though asbestos has not been around since the 1970s, Eric advises that the incidence of mesothelioma, a particularly difficult kind of cancer, has not diminished. And Eric is often saddened by the recognition that many of sick clients were innocent people, who simply went to work everyday and did not realize that their prolonged exposure to asbestos would ultimately make them very sick, or end their lives.

When Eric represents a sick client, the extent of damages depends on numerous factors including the extent and nature of illness, the plaintiff's age, and the ability to identify the company that manufactured the asbestos. Recoveries ranges from the tens of thousands of dollars to multi-million dollar settlements.

If Asbestos Is Found In Your Home ..

What if your home or office is found to contain asbestos? The answer is simple. You must contact an expert who can evaluate the situation. According to a 1990 EPA Fact Sheet, finding asbestos does not always mean that the asbestos must be removed. Sometimes, the best solution is to manage the asbestos "in place" by taking measures to ensure that it does not become airborne.

If your expert concludes that the asbestos should removed, than a company with expertise in asbestos removal must be retained. Improper removal may be both dangerous and illegal. In short, finding asbestos may or may not warrant its removal. If you find asbestos, don't rely on this article, rely on the advise of a professional who has inspected your property.