Asbestos in Fireproofing Material
Concerned that exposure to asbestos fireproofing material could put you at risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other serious health issues?
Dubbed “unquenchable” by the ancient Greeks, asbestos has been considered a near-miraculous mineral for thousands of years. Asbestos is quite literally a rock – it will not burn, conduct heat, corrode or rust. But it also has all of the versatility of a fiber, and can be woven into textiles or included in other materials to boost their fireproofing or thermal properties.
Asbestos was used in countless thousands of consumer, industrial and military applications from the late nineteenth century until the early 1980s, when its use was phased out of most products when the links between asbestos and mesothelioma cancer were established. One of the most popular and widespread uses for asbestos was in fireproofing material. Asbestos fireproofing was widely used in shipbuilding and construction.
Fireproofing material took many forms, including:
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- Spray-applied, such as the Mono-Kote fireproofing material manufactured by W.R. Grace
- Masonry partitions, such as the Pyrobar Gypsum partition tile, manufactured by United States Gypsum
- Gypsum wall board
- Flat transite panels
- And many more
Unfortunately, the asbestos used to make fireproofing materials, no matter what shape it took, was extremely hazardous. Airborne asbestos fibers released during the manufacturing, application, or removal of fireproofing materials can remain suspended in the air for hours or days, and can be easily inhaled. Once they enter the body, asbestos fibers can become embedded in the mesothelium, the delicate protective layer of cells that line the body’s internal organs, leading to scarring and more serious problems many years or decades after exposure. Inhaled asbestos fibers are the precursor to numerous serious illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of cancer.
Although asbestos manufacturers knew for many years that exposure to asbestos was hazardous, they suppressed information that would have protected their workers from exposure. As a result, asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis have killed or incapacitated countless thousands of individuals exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma attorneys fight against corporate negligence
If you believe you may have been exposed to asbestos, or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may want to consider calling a mesothelioma attorney to discuss your legal options. A qualified mesothelioma attorney can help you get the compensation that you and your family need and deserve.
Mesothelioma attorneys have helped thousands of mesothelioma patients win compensation for lost wages and medical costs.