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Spray-Applied Insulation

Asbestos was used in many forms as insulation. Its insulating and fire retardant properties made it a very popular addition to foams, fluff, fiberfill and cement insulations that were used in all sorts of construction through the early 197s. Spray applied insulation was a popular and easy form of asbestos insulation because it was quick to do and required little skill. Spray applied insulation was banned by the EPA in 1973, but by that time it had been used in hundreds of thousands of public and privately owned buildings throughout the United States.

Of all the uses of asbestos and all the methods of application, spray-applied insulation may be one of the most deadly. The danger in asbestos lies in the inhalation of asbestos fibers in the air. Spray-applying creates a fine mist of asbestos fibers that hangs in the air where it is easily inhaled and swallowed. In addition, spray-applied insulation is far more likely to be "friable" - crumbling easily under hand pressure - than other, more rigid forms of asbestos insulation.

Removal or abatement?

If you discover spray applied asbestos insulation in your home or building, the major question facing you is whether the material should be removed or encapsulated. In most cases, experts will recommend leaving the insulation in place and encapsulating it to prevent it from further damage which could release asbestos fibers into the air.

If you're uncertain whether or not a material in your home contains asbestos, it's usually safest to assume that it does until you learn otherwise. If your home was built earlier than 1980 and has decorative plaster, acoustical plaster, sprayed insulation or blown in insulation, chances are very high that the material contains asbestos. Your best and safest option is to hire a professional asbestos inspector to evaluate your situation.

Worked with Insulation

Until the early 1980s, insulation so often contained asbestos that those who installed insulation of any type were often simply called "Asbestos workers". If you worked with spray-applied insulation, blown in insulation or spray applied plasters or wall coatings before 1980, you are at risk for developing mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. Because many of the companies that manufactured spray-applied insulation and other types of asbestos insulation were advertising their products as safe and non-toxic, some even claiming to contain no asbestos, many companies that applied spray-on insulation didn't require much in the way of safety precautions or safety equipment for their workers. These days, those that work with friable asbestos wear heavy duty respirators to avoid inhaling asbestos fibers, but until the early 1980s, most believed that it was safe to apply spray on asbestos foams and insulations wearing little more protection than a paper mask.

If you have spray on insulation in your home, or were exposed to spray-applied insulation in your job, you carry a far higher risk of developing mesothelioma than the general population. It is important that you consult a doctor, especially if you suffer from any respiratory symptoms, including frequent or persistent bronchitis or coughs, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or chronic chest pain. Your doctor should know about your history of exposure to asbestos to help him make an informed diagnosis.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and worked in the insulation industry, especially if you worked with spray-applied insulation, you may be entitled to compensation for your illness. The laws regarding asbestos litigation vary from state to state, so it's important that you discuss your case with a mesothelioma lawyer familiar with the asbestos laws in your state.

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