Work injuries aren’t always apparent to the naked eye. Sometimes, an injury can develop insidiously over a number of months or years and only become a problem when the symptoms become unbearable, necessitating hospitalization and prompt treatment. Whether you work in an office or a factory, there are some substances you must limit your exposure to because of their potential to cause chronic disease and death in due time.
Asbestos
This roofing and industrial material causes over 100,000 deaths worldwide due to complications such as lung cancer, digestive tract inflammation, mesothelioma and breathing difficulties and was used up until recently for decades. Asbestos wears down over years, releasing microscopic fragments that can be inhaled, settling into different organs in one’s body, causing inflammation and disease. This is one of the most dangerous substances known to man that has been used large scale in the past.
Silica
If you work in the Indiana manufacturing industry, you undoubtedly come across silica in its many forms on a daily basis. Even when you wear a mask to protect you while working, the air in these environments is always full or tiny silica globules which are inhaled on a massive scale by Indiana factory workers over the course of their careers. Silica has been shown to compromise the cardiovascular system and the lungs, causing heart attacks and lung cancer.
Lead
This heavy metal is one of the most dangerous substances you can come across at work due to its ability to settle in large quantities in pivotal organs such as the brain. Lead can be found in drinking water, equipment, and paints which can compound its effects especially if one has to come into direct contact with these items or substances on a daily basis.
Radiation
If you work in or near a nuclear power plant, you should be aware of the risk of radiation compromising your DNA as well as white and red blood cells. At the same time, radiologists and their assistants in a hospital setting must take extreme care not to be exposed to radiation for too long, as well as carry out the proper safety procedures each time they have to come into contact with radiation.