Insulation - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

Insulation, used in a myriad of applications, has long been associated with asbestos. As a matter of fact, for years those who installed insulation were referred to as "asbestos workers" because the majority of the materials they worked with daily contained the dangerous mineral. Throughout much of the 20th century, asbestos was considered to be a miracle insulator largely due to its innate resistance to heat and fire.

Asbestos insulation could (and still can) be found wrapped around any number of items or pieces of equipment where heat or fire was a concern including boilers, generators, furnaces, ovens, pipes and electrical wires. Insulators and anyone else working on or around those particular pieces of equipment may have been exposed to the asbestos insulation.

Insulation comes in all shapes and sizes, but it was often necessary to cut insulation to fit a particular application. Cutting, sawing, sanding, or grinding asbestos-containing insulation could cause major exposure because any of those procedures could prompt the release of tiny asbestos fibers, which could then be inhaled or ingested by the insulator or anyone else working in the area.

Unfortunately, insulators usually did not wear any sort of protective gear to prevent that exposure, including masks or respirators. Workers were typically unaware that asbestos was hazardous, even though many insulation manufacturers knew that exposure was causing the development of serious illnesses.

Insulators, construction workers, and those who worked in insulation factories were not the only ones who were at risk of exposure to asbestos from insulation. Homeowners, especially those who complete do-it-yourself projects, may be at risk, even though asbestos warnings issued in the late 1970s reduced the use of many kinds of asbestos. Homeowners tackling their own remodeling jobs may encounter old or "friable" insulation in attics, wrapped around wires or pipes, or elsewhere in their homes. If the proper precautions are not taken during certain projects, homeowners may expose not only themselves to airborne asbestos fibers but also expose family members who also live in the home.

To the untrained eye, it's not always easy to tell whether or not a particular type of insulation contains asbestos, though in some cases it is clearly marked. Anyone who is uncertain about the presence of asbestos insulation in their home should have the materials in question tested. If asbestos is indeed present, a licensed abatement professional should be hired to remove the material. Exposure to asbestos-containing insulation, especially friable insulation, can lead to the development of an asbestos-related disease. Countless individuals who worked with insulation have developed some sort of asbestos-related disease, including pleural plaques, asbestosis, and the cancer mesothelioma.

Some of the most popular manufacturers of asbestos-containing insulation include Johns-Manville, Owens Corning (now Owens-Illinois), Keasbey and Mattison, Ehret, W.R. Grace and Co., CertainTeed, and several others. Many of these companies declared bankruptcy years ago, facing a large amount of asbestos lawsuits from those who worked in their factories or used their products.