Spray Fireproofing - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

During World War II, a spray containing asbestos was used to insulate boiler systems on ships and sprayed-on interior walls to reduce the chance of fire. After the war, that technology was generalized to the public. In the years between World War II and 1973, public buildings such as schools and government offices were often sprayed with asbestos-containing spray fireproofing for safety reasons.

The project, while noble in intention, introduced a deadly carcinogen to thousands of workers and millions of schoolchildren throughout the country. In 1973, the EPA banned the use of asbestos spray fireproofing because of the safety hazards of inhaling large amounts of asbestos fibers. That act was originally meant to safeguard the millions of workers in the construction industry who were applying the fireproofing spray to buildings. By the 1980s however, the focus of the concern had shifted from the workers to the occupants of the building in which the fireproofing asbestos sprays had been used.

In 1973, the EPA estimated that it would cost school districts about $3 billion to remove all asbestos-containing materials from the schools. Fifteen years later, 1988 report to the EPA estimated that there were about 750,000 public buildings in the United States that contained asbestos materials, and that the cleanup and abatement efforts could cost close to $50 billion. Even that estimate may be low. Some estimates place the costs of removing asbestos from schools and other public buildings may be as high as $150 billion.

The real cost though is in the health of those who are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, schools and the environment. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, forms long fibers when it is pulverized and processed. These fibers can be used - and have been used - in many ways in construction and other industries. Often, when asbestos-containing materials were used, workers were not made aware of the deadly potential for developing mesothelioma years after exposure. In some cases, the abuse of workers' and the public trust went far beyond mere neglect.

The W.R. Grace Company is a case in point. One of their most well-known products was a fireproofing spray called Monokote. In the 1970s, as news about the deadly effects of asbestos began to make news, the Grace company reformulated their asbestos-containing spray fireproofing and announced that they had created an asbestos-free fireproofing spray. They retained the name Monokote for their product, and it was widely sold and used. Unfortunately, the Grace company was not quite honest about the chemical components of Monokote.

In fact, Monokote fireproofing spray contained tremolite asbestos, which contaminated the vermiculite with which the fireproofing spray was made. Grace was aware of the fact, and actually shared the information with the EPA and OSHA. In 1977, Grace officials decided to continue telling the public that Monokote spray fireproofing was a non-asbestos product. Because of the assurances from the manufacturer, many construction and insulation workers abandoned the bulky respirators they wore when working with asbestos-containing products in favor of more lightweight paper filter masks that are adequate protection from other inhaled particles.

In fact, the vermiculite being used in Monokote before 1990 was being mined from the Libby, Montana mine, owned by W. R. Grace. At its peak of production, the Libby mine pumped about 10,000 pounds of asbestos dust into the air every day. Residents of the town of Libby are still coping with the devastating effects of 40 years of asbestos-contaminated mining so close to where they live and work. It could be another 40 years or more before we see the end result of the company's deliberate lies to the public about the asbestos content of its spray. That fallout could be heavy - in 2001, Grace reported to the New York Times that 60 to 80 percent of the steel framed buildings built in the 1970s and 1980s - about 150,000 buildings in total - were sprayed with Monokote spray fireproofing.

If you or someone you loved worked with Monokote or another asbestos-containing fireproofing spray, you may have legal options to recover damages. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and would like to learn more, please fill out the form on this page to receive an informative packet in the mail.

Additional Construction Products: