Asbestos exposure is most associated with which occupation?

• A. Building demolition workers
• B. Coal miners
• C. Sandblasters
• D. Farmers

Answer: (A)

Asbestos exposure is most tied to disturbing materials that contain asbestos in buildings, especially during demolition or renovation. When old structures are torn down, insulation, fireproofing, floor tiles, and other asbestos-containing components can release fibers into the air. Inhaled asbestos fibers can lead to diseases like asbestosis, pleural plaques, mesothelioma, and lung cancer, often after a long latency.

Other occupations listed have different primary hazards: coal miners deal mainly with coal dust (risk of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis), sandblasters historically faced silica dust (silicosis), and farmers are exposed to agricultural dusts and pesticides. Thus, building demolition workers are the most associated with asbestos exposure.