What Types of Products Contain Asbestos?

Asbestos Products

Asbestos use in commercial products dates back to the 1800s, when manufacturers identified it as a cost-effective, durable, and flexible material that also acted as a fireproofing and insulating agent. It didn’t take long for the manufacturing and construction industries to start using asbestos when producing building materials, pipe insulation, gaskets, packing, friction products, and more and by World War II, asbestos was used extensively in power plants, shipyards, chemical facilities, steel mills, refineries, garages, and other industrial and commercial settings.

As time went on, doctors began treating men and women who worked around asbestos for respiratory conditions. As early as the early 1900s, doctors began seeing incidents of asbestos disease, yet workers were rarely warned about the health hazards of working with asbestos. This coverup was orchestrated by the asbestos industry and unfortunately thousands have suffered as a result.

Common Products that Contain Asbestos

If you worked in an industry where asbestos was commonly used, including steel mills, power plants, refineries, aluminum smelters, manufacturing facilities, and garages, you may have worked with or around products that contained asbestos.

Some of the most common construction products containing asbestos included:

• Adhesives
• Gunning mix and construction mastics
• Flexible duct connectors and ductwork connectors
• Drywall taping compounds and floor backing
• Insulation
• Zonolite insulation
• Roofing shingles or other siding products
• Gaskets
• Packing
• Mortars

The use of asbestos also became a common practice across the automotive industry, with manufacturers using the product in parts ranging from brake pads and clutches to hood liners, valves and gaskets.

Asbestos was widely used in textiles, specifically those designed to be resistant to heat or other corrosive elements. Typically, this involved fireman suits, fire-resistant blankets, welding blankets, asbestos gloves, and asbestos apparel.

Are Asbestos Products Still on the Market?

Despite it’s former popularity, asbestos use in products has declined. Nevertheless, the United States still has not banned asbestos in its entirety, although many other countries have banned the carcinogen.

Even though an exhaustive ban has not occurred in the United States, most manufacturers and consumers who purchased asbestos products have abandoned the practice due to the health effects of inhaling asbestos fibers.

However, asbestos that was installed prior to market decreases in usage continues to remain a problem, and because of the long latency period between exposure to asbestos and development of an asbestos-related disease, many of the exxposures of the 1970s and 1980s are just starting to manifest in disease now.  Therefore, America’s tragic experience with asbestos is far from over.

Finding Legal Assistance

Are you or someone you know dealing with a recent diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer?  If so, it is important that you enlist the guidance of a qualified attorney as soon as possible. Only an attorney with experience in handling asbestos-related cases can work with you and your medical team to assess your condition and determine the best strategy for the recovery of damages or other compensation. Such costs can be game changing for those dealing with mounting medical costs, including those covering radiation, chemotherapy or surgery.

At Antion McGee Law Group, PLLC, we are proud to advocate on behalf of those who need it most – victims of asbestos exposure. Many of our clients are hard working men and women who have suffered asbestos exposures on the job, but we also work with those who were exposed to asbestos secondhand, or those who were unknowingly exposed through, for example, washing a loved one’s work clothing that had asbestos fibers in it. We are prepared to work with you to conduct a thorough investigation into the career history of both you and your loved ones to determine where the greatest risk for exposure occurred. We understand that dealing with complex medical issues like asbestos-related disease is never easy and that’s why we are committed to supporting you and your family every step of the way.

If you are looking for legal assistance with your mesothelioma or lung cancer, we encourage you to contact our attorneys to schedule an initial consultation. Do not delay – call Antion McGee Law Group, PLLC today at (304) 807-0739. In the event that your health or schedule do not permit you to travel to our office, we are prepared to meet with you in your home or medical facility so that we can assess your case as soon as possible.