Related Topics ► Other TopicsAsbestos Rope
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous substance that is an excellent insulator, and is both flame-retardant and fire-resistant. It was widely used in more than 5,000 products for most of the twentieth century, despite the dangers. Asbestos was most often used in the ship-building industry and in the manufacture of construction materials.
Asbestos rope and yarn has been used as lagging (insulation) on jointing and pipes, as packing material around windows, as insulation for electrical equipment, and as heat-resistant sealing for boilers and ovens. Asbestos rope may contain anywhere between 40% and 100% asbestos rope depending on its function.
The Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos poses a health risk because it is made up of tiny fibers that can become airborne, and inhaled into the lungs. When these fibers work their way into the lungs they cannot be excreted, and if long term exposure occurs, these fibers can eventually cause the development of lung diseases. Lung cancer, asbestosis, and a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma are all known to be caused by asbestos exposure. All of these diseases typically take several decades to develop after asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma is particularly lethal because the disease is very difficult to diagnose, and because there is no cure and no effective treatments available. The symptoms of mesothelioma are very non-specific in the early stages of the disease, resembling those of much less serious viral infections such as pneumonia and influenza. Of the two thousand Americans diagnosed with mesothelioma every year, approximately 50% will survive less than two years after diagnosis.
The presence of asbestos in the home via asbestos rope and other materials does not always present a health risk. If the material is intact and in good condition, there is little chance that asbestos fibers will become airborne. However, any disturbance to the materials may cause fibers to be released into the air, where they may be inhaled. The greatest risk of asbestos exposure is in people who have worked in manufacturing industries where asbestos was used in the past.
Asbestos and your Legal Rights
In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in most construction materials. However, the dangers of asbestos had been known as early as the 1930s, and this ban came far too late for many thousands of workers. Many companies that used asbestos in manufacturing, or made products containing asbestos, failed to provide their workers with adequate protection from asbestos. The greatest tragedy of the widespread use of asbestos up until the 1980s is that this lack of protection for workers exposed many thousands of people to asbestos unnecessarily.
- Former Railroad Worker Sues Employer for Toxin Exposure
2008-07-15 15:24:59
Asbestos is the cause of mesothelioma, one of the deadliest cancers around. In the late 70's asbestos was largely banned but unfortunately products already being produced were not recalled and asbestos still lingers in many peoples homes walls and office buildings. The following is a brief recap o ...Read More
- KDHE Issues Post-Storm Asbestos Warning
2008-07-08 15:54:55
After recent storms the Kansas Department of Health and Environments has issued a general warning to remind residents of storm-damaged areas that asbestos exposure is a possibility which should be guarded against while cleaning up debris. Asbestos was a common component of construction materials up until the 1980s due to its high fire resistance ...Read More - Jury Sides with Defendant after Three-Week Asbestos Trial
2008-07-08 15:53:46
The family of a former Illinois man were disappointed this week after an sbestos lawsuit failed to provide them with the compensation they had hoped for. After a three-week trial, the jury decided in favor of the defendants. The family of Robert C. Scott sued Honeywell International and Pneumo Abex, claiming that Scott had come into contact with ...Read More
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