Products that contain asbestos are all around us. In the United States, the peak years for the manufacture of products with asbestos were from about 1940 to 1975. In the 1960s, the toxicity of asbestos as a material finally became acknowledged, but it wasn’t until 1970 that federal laws started to limit the many uses of products containing asbestos.
List of Asbestos-Containing Materials
So what contains asbestos, and what kind of materials or products should one look out for? Unfortunately, its use was so widespread that there are many different kinds of products that contain asbestos in many different categories. Because of the fire- and heat-resistant properties of asbestos, it was used in many building products as a fire-retardant insulator in plumbing, electrical, and structural applications. This means that asbestos still has a significant presence in our lives. The use was so widespread that entire list of products that contain asbestos is bound to be incomplete. Below is a partial list of products that most likely contain the cancer-causing substance.
Building exteriors
- Stucco
- Building overhangs (thermal spray)
- Brick and block mortar
- Asbestos cement siding and roof panels
Building products
- Sprayed insulation (fire-resistant, acoustic, condensation control, thermal)
- Insulating cements
- Insulation block (calcium or magnesia silicate)
- Textiles
Flooring
- Sheet vinyl flooring (asbestos paper backing)
- Vinyl asbestos tile
- Floor leveling compound
Walls
- Stippled finishes
- Thermal spray
- Plaster or drywall jointing materials
Pipes
- Steam and hot water heating supply and return lines
- Gaskets in flanged pipe joints
- Domestic water supply and drain lines
- Rain water and sanitary lines
Ceilings
- Acoustic and stippled finishes
- T-bar ceiling tiles
- Asbestos cement ceiling tiles
- Plaster or drywall jointing materials
Service Areas
- Crawl spaces (insulation on pipes, ducts)
- Machine rooms (insulation on pipes, ducts, floors, ceilings, walls)
- Insulation in boiler rooms (pipes, ducts, boilers, vessels, incinerators, floors, ceilings, walls)
- Fan rooms (insulation of pipes, ducts, chillers, floors, ceilings, walls)
Textiles
- Fireproof blankets
- Fireproof clothing
- Stage curtains
- Packing cloth
- Welding blankets and screens
Car Parts
- Brake pads and braking systems
- Gaskets
- Transmission parts
Miscellaneous
- Early cigarette filters
- Early duct tape
- Incandescent light fixture backing
- Incinerators (internal insulation)/li>
- Wire insulation
- Heating cabinet panels (asbestos cement)
- Fire dampers and fire-stop flaps
- Emergency generators (thermal insulation and exhaust manifolds)
- Elevator brake shoes
This is a very basic list of what contains asbestos and where it may be commonly found. Due to its popularity, the substance may be present in even more materials.
Asbestos can be sprayed as a mist to make a friction-resistant and fire-resistant coating. It can be woven and spun into textiles. And it can be made into sheets. Its versatility and strength made it seem like a “miracle material.” Unfortunately, the many good properties of asbestos don’t outweigh its damaging property: It has been proven to cause cancer in humans and animals.
Asbestos and Cancer Risks
Many commonly used products still contain asbestos, and the carcinogenic (cancer-causing) properties of asbestos in these products have caused an epidemic of diseases including a very severe form of abdominal and lung cancer, mesothelioma. If you work in certain industries, you’ve most likely been exposed. If you’ve gotten sick due to your exposure, it may be time to contact a lawyer; you have certain legal rights that must be held up through litigation.
Contact Us To Learn More About Asbestos Cancer
If you would like to learn more about the resources available to victims of cancer as a result of asbestos exposure, contact Mesothelioma Treatment Centers today. An attorney can speak with you about your treatment and legal options.
