Asbestos Products

Asbestos Panels

Asbestos panels were commonly used in construction prior to the 1980s, most often in areas where heat protection was necessary such as around wood-burning stoves, furnaces, and heating appliances. Asbestos panes were used in both walls and floors, and may contain between 30% and 80% asbestos.

Asbestos was a common component of a large variety of construction materials used up to and in the 1980s. In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in most construction materials due to the known dangers of the substance. However, the ban did not apply to existing stocks of asbestos-containing products. This means that asbestos-containing materials were used in construction well into the 1980s, and any home or building build in or before the 1980s may potentially contain asbestos panels or other asbestos-containing construction materials.

Asbestos is dangerous because the tiny fibers it is made from can be inhaled if they become airborne. When the fibers are inhaled into the lungs, the body is often unable to excrete them. Long-term exposure to asbestos is a serious health risk, and is known to cause diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, a rare but highly lethal type of cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs as a result of asbestos inhalation.

Protecting your Family from Asbestos in the Home

If your home was built in or before the 1980s, it may contain asbestos panels or other asbestos-containing construction materials. This is not always a cause for alarm, however. Depending on the age and condition of the materials, the asbestos they contain may not pose a health risk. As long as the materials are not disturbed, asbestos fibers are unlikely to be able to escape and become airborne. However, as the materials age and degrade, fibers may potentially be released, and if the materials are disturbed during remodeling it is highly likely that fibers will become airborne.

If you suspect asbestos panels or other materials are present in your home, the materials can be tested for asbestos and removed if they pose a health risk. In most cases both the test and the removal should be carried out by a professional to ensure removal and disposal is carried out safely.

Asbestos and your Legal Rights

The dangers of asbestos were known as early as the 1930s. Tragically, many companies who were aware of the risks did not provide adequate protection for the workers who were exposed to asbestos. Due to the long latency period of diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, it was several decades before large numbers of people developed these conditions.

Because many companies ignored the risks of working with asbestos, and because these diseases are only caused by exposure to asbestos, people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos have the right to claim financial compensation from the company responsible for their asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma and asbestosis cannot be cured, but compensation can provide for medical expenses, replacement of lost income, and compensate for the loss of quality of life that these diseases cause.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with asbestosis or mesothelioma, it is important to contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis. The statute of limitations on such cases is two to three years, meaning that you must begin legal proceedings within this period of time to be eligible to receive compensation.

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