Vinyl Floor Tiles - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

For much of the past hundred years, asbestos has been used with alarming frequency in innumerable construction, industrial and commercial applications. Asbestos commonly found its way into homes and workplaces during construction, when asbestos-containing vinyl floor tiles were used to conceal raw cement floors. Vinyl floor tiles containing asbestos were in vogue with developers, construction teams and contractors for many years. In fact, until the 1970s asbestos vinyl floor tiles were the No. 1 choice of developers and contractors for the construction of new homes because their price per unit was low, they were readily available, and conducted heat poorly, making them ideal insulators. As a result of the popularity of asbestos material, homes built before the 1970s are likely to contain these vinyl floor tiles, many of which contain dangerous asbestos fibers. Many commercial and industrial buildings, along with residential properties, may still harbor these dangerous asbestos-tainted tiles.

The manufacturers of these vinyl asbestos floor tiles have placed the public at risk of developing serious asbestos-related illnesses. Even if these tiles were installed in the home many years or decades ago, they still pose an exposure threat. Today, many high schools and higher-education institutions still harbor asbestos floor tiles, oftentimes beneath a thin layer of carpeting. As long as no tiles have been broken or uprooted, the asbestos contained beneath the vinyl is not likely an immediate health threat.

However, with heavy foot traffic and time, vinyl floor tiles may wear or break down, in which case asbestos fibers or particles may be released into the air. Sanding, buffing, and removal of these tiles can cause the same dangerous results. Only a professional licensed to handle asbestos should attempt to remove dangerous asbestos tiles from your home or workplace. Exposure to the airborne asbestos particles can cause serious illness. If you have ever worked installing vinyl floor tiles, own a home built before 1970, or have a child who attends an asbestos-contaminated school, you and your family may have been exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos causes a number of serious medical conditions and illnesses, including the cancer mesothelioma, as well as other, non-cancerous diseases. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses are dangerous or fatal, and they may take many years or decades before presenting visible symptoms. If you have developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness as the result of exposure to vinyl floor tiles and would like to learn more, please fill out the form on this page to receive an informative packet in the mail.

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