Cement and Asbestos

Cement, in various forms, has existed since the Romans first discovered the item. The modern version has existed since roughly the Industrial Revolution. The substance has always played an integral role in the construction industry and most people would agree that life today would be very different without cement.

Although cement has been used as a building material for a number of years, it was not until the early twentieth century that asbestos began to be added into the mixture. Asbestos-cement products have been used in a myriad of ways. They have been applauded for their fire resistance, durability, easy formation process, and their low costs.

When asbestos is added to cement, the proportion of cement to asbestos fiber varies with the company producing the cement and the intended use of the cement. Some mixes of asbestos-cement might have contained as little as 10% asbestos while other mixes could have been as high as 75% of the total mixture.

When it was first developed, asbestos-cement was commonly marketed as an agent for roof repair. Given the ability of the substance to expand to fill in spaces, companies that manufactured the compound guaranteed that it would stop all leaks. Afterwards, asbestos-cement was used as a synthetic roofing material as well as in wall shingles, corrugated wall and roof panels, flat millboard, as well as for decorative wall and ceiling molds.

The companies that produced asbestos-cement continued to use the product until the warnings of the 1970s. There is evidence that shows that many of the producers were well aware of the health dangers of the mineral. Records show that company executives had inside knowledge of the health hazards associated with asbestos but never shared the information with their workers.

Contact an Asbestos Exposure Attorney

If you have been exposed to asbestos due to the greed or negligence of an employer, contact a mesothelioma lawyer from Williams Kherkher at 1-800-781-3955 today.