| Before we recognized the dangers of asbestos, | | | | and Phase Out Rule in 1989. This banned most |
| people used it in a variety of different places. It | | | | asbestos-containing products, including the |
| was found everywhere from the construction | | | | previously protected flooring felt, rollboard, and |
| industry to the automotive business. However, | | | | corrugated, commercial, and specialty paper. Also, |
| now we know that it causes things like lung | | | | new products cannot be developed that contain |
| cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pleural | | | | this mineral. |
| plaques. Subsequently, there are now a number | | | | The EPA also protects against the release of |
| of rules and regulations concerning the use of | | | | airborne asbestos fibers, because this is the most |
| asbestos. | | | | dangerous form of the mineral. It is when fibers |
| First, you must realize that asbestos does have a | | | | break off that we inhale and ingest the |
| number of useful properties which contributed to | | | | microscopic, health-damaging particles. They can |
| it becoming a highly popular additive. It is a | | | | then get lodged in our lungs, where they can |
| member of the silicate family. Silicate family | | | | cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and |
| materials are lauded for their insulating properties, | | | | pleural thickening. If ingested, asbestos fibers can |
| and asbestos is no different. It is resistant to | | | | contribute to cancers such as esophageal, |
| heat, flame, chemicals, electricity, and degradation. | | | | gastrointestinal, and colorectal. |
| Additionally, asbestos has several helpful | | | | The Occupational Safety and Health Agency |
| properties of its own. This includes high tensile | | | | (OSHA) also helps protect people from asbestos |
| strength and flexibility. | | | | exposure, specifically workers. It requires that |
| Because of these characteristics, asbestos could | | | | automotive centers that perform more than five |
| be found in many different places prior to | | | | brake or clutch jobs per week adopt special |
| regulation. In construction, it was used as roofing | | | | methods to help contain the release of fibers. |
| tiles, roofing tar, drywall compound, joint | | | | Additionally, it regulates the way employers |
| compound, ceiling tiles, insulating panels, texturing, | | | | approach asbestos exposure and requires them |
| vinyl flooring, and even counter tops. For the | | | | to perform certain amounts of paperwork and |
| automotive industry, asbestos was (and still is) a | | | | reporting to help keep their employees safe. |
| component of clutch plates, gaskets, brake pads, | | | | Although we now have many regulations that help |
| and brake shoes. Other uses include stage | | | | protect us from asbestos exposure, many people |
| curtains, firefighter's gear, fire doors, fire blankets, | | | | came into contact with the substance before the |
| and thermal pipe insulation. | | | | ban. Additionally, others can still encounter |
| Even though doctors in the United States began | | | | asbestos in accidental exposures. If you or |
| to notice the dangers of asbestos in the beginning | | | | someone you know has developed mesothelioma |
| of the 20th century, it was not until the 1970s | | | | due to illegal asbestos exposure, you may be |
| that people began pushing for regulations. After a | | | | entitled to financial recompense. For more |
| number of lawsuits, the Environmental Protection | | | | information, talk to a mesothelioma lawyer at the |
| Agency, or EPA, finally issued the Asbestos Ban | | | | firm of Williams Kherkher today. |