Related Topics â–º Other TopicsASB Weatherproof Jackets
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring substance that in the past was commonly used in a very wide range of construction materials, including insulation materials such as weatherproof jackets, acoustic barriers and fire-retardants. However, asbestos is now known to be extremely dangerous when inhaled or otherwise ingested. Long-term exposure to this substance can cause several debilitating and life-threatening diseases, including a highly lethal form of cancer called mesothelioma.
Weatherproof jackets are small sheath-like objects that are typically used to provide weatherproof insulation for valves and joints to control the internal temperature of the insulated system. These items may contain anywhere between 10% and 80% asbestos.
Prior to 1977 the use of weatherproof jackets and other building materials containing asbestos was widespread. In 1977 the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in most construction products. However, because the ban did not extend to cover pre-existing stocks of asbestos-containing construction materials, many homes built well into the 1980s were constructed using products containing this potentially hazardous substance.
What you can do to Protect your Family from Asbestos in the Home
The presence of asbestos in the home is not always a health hazard. As long as asbestos-containing materials are in good physical condition and are allowed to remain undisturbed, the asbestos fibers stay trapped within the substance. However, disturbances may allow the fibers to be released into the air, and they can then potentially be inhaled into the lungs.
If you believe that items such as weatherproof jackets and other construction materials used in building your home may contain asbestos, the best course of action is to have those items professionally tested for the presence of asbestos. If these tests determine that asbestos is present, you can then obtain professional advice to determine if the asbestos is hazardous and must be removed. Whether the materials must be removed will typically depend on the location, the items involved, and the condition of the materials.
Asbestos and your Rights
Mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are caused by long-term asbestos exposure over a period of several years. This deadly substance is even more dangerous due to the non-specific nature of asbestos-related disease symptoms. In the early stages of mesothelioma, for example, symptoms commonly resemble those of much less serious conditions such as influenza. This means that diagnosing mesothelioma is particularly difficult, and together with the lack of a cure for the disease contributes to the very high mortality rate.
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, obtaining both medical and legal advice should be done as soon as possible. Obtaining legal advice quickly is important due to the statute of limitations concerning asbestos-related disease diagnosis. In most states, legal proceedings must be undertaken within two or three years of mesothelioma diagnosis.
Your mesothelioma lawyer can not only help you understand your rights in these cases, they can also help you determine how your exposure to asbestos occurred, whether in the home or at work. It is particularly important to uncover the facts of the exposure, to determine who is ultimately responsible for the exposure having occurred. This may be the company that manufactured the products, the contractor who constructed the building, or even the owner of the building, depending on the circumstances.
A mesothelioma lawyer can also help you obtain both justice and financial compensation for the loss of quality of life, loss of income, and physical and emotional pain that results from a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
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2008-08-21 15:08:04
A meeting scheduled this week for the Montpelier school district in Vermont will finally provide members of the public the opportunity to learn about the district’s ongoing asbestos exposure problems. ...Read More
- Mesothelioma Lawsuits Filed in Madison County, Illinois
2008-08-21 10:53:26
Recently in Madison County District Court in Illinois, two new lawsuits were filed involving patients who have developed mesothelioma cancer as a result of asbestos exposure. The first was filed by ...Read More - Mesothelioma Risk After Toronto Explosion
2008-08-19 15:29:02
Residents of a neighborhood in Toronto, Canada are in shock after an explosion occurred at the Sunrise Propane facility. And though the immediate dangers of the explosion have passed, there are still ...Read More
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