Asbestos Products
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease after using one of the products discussed below, our legal team can help you determine the source of your asbestos exposure and seek fair compensation. Our asbestos exposure attorneys have recovered more than $4 billion in high-value case results for our clients and their families. We’re ready to put our decades of experience to work for you.
Construction workers, members of the military, firefighters, and everyday citizens have been exposed to asbestos because of the reckless and irresponsible choices of manufacturers and distributors. Inhaling asbestos fibers is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a deadly disease that makes it difficult to breathe and causes severe pain.
If you or someone close to you were exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, there are legal options available to you. Filing an asbestos-exposure lawsuit allows you to cast light on the actions of the organizations that caused your illness. The experienced asbestos-exposure lawyers at The Gori Law Firm are committed to supporting victims as they seek justice, accountability, and compensation.
Navigate this page
- Why Were Asbestos Products So Common?
- Construction Materials Known to Contain Asbestos
- Other Products Known to Contain Asbestos
- What Products Still Contain Asbestos Today?
- If You Developed an Asbestos Related Disease After Using One of the Products Above, You May Be Entitled to Compensation
- Asbestos Product FAQs
- Asbestos was a common component of products in homes, workplaces, and industrial settings until the late 1970s.
- Products that contained asbestos in the 20th century include insulation, flooring materials, wall and ceiling materials, shingles, brakes, and gaskets.
- Workers in certain occupations, such as construction and automotive manufacturing, are at a higher risk of occupational asbestos exposure.
- Although asbestos use became less common after the 1970s, the U.S. did not fully ban it, and many products still contain it today.
- You may be eligible for compensation if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.
Why Were Asbestos Products So Common?
Asbestos is an incredibly strong and heat-resistant natural mineral fiber. These qualities made it a material of choice for a wide range of uses throughout the 20th century. It was especially popular as an insulator and fire retardant in industrial and construction applications.
Asbestos once had a place in nearly every aspect of our lives, from construction materials to vehicle parts. While asbestos use has declined significantly since the 1970s, the risk of exposure continues to put countless people at risk of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and more.
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Construction Materials Known to Contain Asbestos
Nearly every building in the United States was constructed with at least some materials containing asbestos at the height of its use. This put construction workers, maintenance workers, and other people who spent time in these buildings at risk of asbestos exposure. Secondary asbestos exposure also posed a threat to loved ones when these workers brought the fibers home on their clothing.
Asbestos Insulation
Asbestos is great at preventing heat from escaping. Manufacturers took advantage of this property by adding asbestos to spray insulation, pipe wrapping, vermiculite, loose-fill insulation, block insulation, and electrical insulation products.
Any time these materials are disturbed, whether during installation, removal, or repair, asbestos fibers are released into the air. Electricians, plumbers, insulation professionals, and other workers can then inhale the dangerous fibers.
Asbestos Plaster
Plaster is a building material that coats the interior walls of buildings. Manufacturers often added asbestos to plaster as a convenient way to improve the material’s durability, insulation, and fire resistance. Workers involved in asbestos plaster installation or repair faced the highest risk of inhalation when their work disturbed the fibers.
Asbestos Drywall
Drywall comes in the form of large rigid sheets of material, much of which was manufactured with asbestos. Cutting, sanding, or otherwise disrupting these sheets can send asbestos fibers airborne.
Asbestos Ducts
Ductwork carries air throughout a building. Many asbestos-containing materials were involved in their construction, including paper insulation, duct tape, vibration dampeners, and asbestos cement. HVAC workers who have direct contact with these materials may face airborne exposure, and any damage to the ducts can cause asbestos fibers to circulate through a building’s ventilation system.
Asbestos Cement Pipe
Water distribution and sewage lines that carry water and waste between buildings were often made from asbestos-containing cement. These pipes can deteriorate as they age and release asbestos fibers into the water we use for drinking, cooking, and washing. The Safe Drinking Water Act limits asbestos to 7 million fibers per liter of water, but cement pipe failures have resulted in numerous instances of contamination exceeding this amount.
Asbestos Shingles
Roofing tiles, also known as shingles, frequently contain asbestos for added durability. Asbestos shingles can last many decades, but older shingles may become brittle over time and release fibers into the air. Roofers who repair or replace asbestos shingles are at especially high risk for asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Flooring
Asbestos was a common component of flooring materials before the 1980s. Many types of flooring contained asbestos, including vinyl sheet flooring, linoleum, laminate, and vinyl tiles. Flooring adhesives also contained asbestos, raising the risk of exposure for flooring installers and other workers who handle these materials.
Asbestos Ceiling Tiles
Ceiling tiles manufactured in the 1980s or earlier often contained high amounts of asbestos. Any disturbance, such as drilling or cutting into these tiles, can release asbestos fibers into the air. Workers involved in activities that produce ceiling tile dust, such as installation or renovation, may have been exposed to asbestos.
Other Products Known to Contain Asbestos
Although asbestos was most prevalent in building materials, it was also used in many other products throughout the automotive industry and beyond.
Asbestos Brakes
Brake pads, brake shoes, and clutches for motor vehicles commonly contained asbestos. These brake parts release asbestos fibers into the air when put in motion and worn down over time. Mechanics who worked on vehicles during the height of asbestos use in the 20th century, as well as modern-day mechanics who work on older vehicles, are at risk of asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos Glue and Adhesives
Asbestos was a common component of adhesives used to install wallpaper, wall panels, and flooring. Black asbestos mastic was one of the most popular adhesives used for these purposes. Workers who renovate or remove old wallpaper, wall panels, or flooring may face asbestos exposure when disturbing these adhesives.
Asbestos Gaskets
Gaskets are components of industrial machinery and engines that form a tight seal between two surfaces. Many types of gaskets contained asbestos in the 20th century, including rope gaskets, sheet gaskets, and more. Workers in the shipbuilding, manufacturing, boilermaking, and automotive industries may have experienced asbestos exposure when working with these gaskets.
Asbestos Fireproofing
Asbestos slows the spread of fire, which made it a popular choice for fireproofing materials. It was commonly added to firefighter gear, building materials, and consumer goods like oven mitts, kitchen appliances, mattresses, and purses. The use of asbestos fireproofing puts both consumers and workers at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.
What Products Still Contain Asbestos Today?
Asbestos use in the U.S. declined significantly after the 1970s as the government created laws limiting its use. However, these laws did not ban all asbestos use. Manufacturers throughout the world continue to use asbestos, and many asbestos products are still imported into the U.S. Examples of products that may still contain asbestos include:
- Asbestos diaphragms used for chloralkali plants
- Oilfield brake blocks
- Sheet gaskets
- Automotive brakes, linings, and other vehicle friction parts
Additionally, many older buildings, vehicles, and consumer goods contain asbestos and remain in use today. The ongoing use of pre-1980s asbestos products may pose an even greater risk since aging causes asbestos to become more friable and easy to inhale.
If You Developed an Asbestos Related Disease After Using One of the Products Above, You May Be Entitled to Compensation
Companies that distributed asbestos products after knowing of the dangers may be liable for your asbestos-related disease. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible for compensation.
Our award-winning asbestos exposure law firm can help you determine the source of your asbestos exposure, inform you of your legal options, and guide you through your next steps. Call (618) 659-9833 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with our skilled legal team.
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Asbestos Product FAQs
It’s common to have many questions when facing an asbestos-related disease. Below are some frequently asked questions about asbestos products and your potential options after exposure.
Are Products Containing Asbestos Banned?
Though the U.S. did not originally ban all asbestos products, many forms of asbestos have since been banned, including spray-applied asbestos products. In March 2024, the U.S. also finalized a ban on chrysotile asbestos, which is the only type of asbestos still being imported into the country and used in new products. However, the ban is not immediate, as the law gives manufacturers several years to phase out chrysotile asbestos use.
Can I File a Lawsuit if the Company That Manufactured the Asbestos Products That Caused My Exposure Is No Longer in Business?
Yes, you may be eligible to seek compensation from an asbestos manufacturer that is no longer in business. Many asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy due to the overwhelming number of lawsuits against them. Courts required these companies to establish asbestos trust funds for future victims. A third party may also be liable for your asbestos exposure in some cases.
Does Asbestos Have a Smell?
No, asbestos does not have a detectable odor. This means it’s possible to breathe in asbestos without knowing it.
How Do You Know If a Product Has Asbestos?
Asbestos is not easily identifiable by sight alone. The only sure way to know if a product contains asbestos is to have a qualified laboratory analyze a sample. If the product was manufactured before the 1980s, there is a higher likelihood that it contains asbestos.
What Should I Do if I Suspect a Product in My Home Contains Asbestos?
If you suspect a product in your home contains asbestos, do not try to handle or remove it yourself. Contact an accredited asbestos professional for testing and removal. This is the best way to protect yourself against fibers released during the removal process.
