Asbestos exposure and law enforcement: The unknown correlation
As law enforcement officers, Police men and women are asked to put their lives on the line all the time. When one thinks of the everyday rigors and risks of being a police officer, exposure to building material doesn’t exactly seem that dangerous. However, asbestos exposure can be a major, life threatening risk to officers alike.
Every day, those in law enforcement throughout the nation are asked to enter scenes of unknown peril and risk. When an officer enters a scene, it’s highly unlikely that the first thing on their mind is the fact that hazardous materials could be present. Anytime a police officer is asked to report to an older home, commercial building or old factory, they may come in contact with asbestos, the fiber which is now known mostly for its correlation with mesothelioma cancer.
Asbestos was once viewed as one of the most versatile and trustworthy building materials imaginable. Used in all sorts of military bases, plants and factories, this fiber was regarded for its fireproofing and safety. Unfortunately, asbestos was actually having a completely opposite effect. Those who were often in contact and exposed to this material began to develop symptoms of the cancer known as mesothelioma years after. This disease affects the lining within the lungs and abdomen area, usually having a latency period that can last for decades, thus survival rate is very low. On average, mesothelioma life expectancy averages between four to 18 months after diagnosis.
Police officers can also be exposed to asbestos in a number of different situations. One notable example is any assistance that is provided in the case of fires. Those in law enforcement put themselves at the same risk of asbestos exposure as firefighters do, while being in the area of burning buildings and other structures. Often times, buildings containing asbestos become increasingly more dangerous when on fire, as asbestos can become friable and airborne, in their most dangerous form.
The risk of law enforcement officers to mesothelioma and asbestos has never been clearer than after the events of September 11, 2001. Along with numerous firefighters and EMT personnel, many police officers were among the first ones on the scene of ground zero after the towers fell. Once ground zero was filled with building rubble and dust, asbestos exposure began to become a serious health risk, especially to these first responders. Many of the men and women who risked their lives to search for victims in ground zero have felt the effect of mesothelioma in the years following the attacks. With the extremely long latency period of the disease, more will continue to feel the effects for years to come.
Given the variety and amount of different situations a law enforcement officer is asked to be in, asbestos exposure comes with the territory. Even though this remains a risk, the most important thing to do is to keep awareness of exposure and the tie to law enforcement high. With the decrease in use of asbestos as a building material after the 1980’s, hopefully mesothelioma and the related risks will begin to decrease in the near future.
