Asbestos Attorney
Asbestos Today
Despite the many costs of asbestos – the loss of lives, the medical expenses for families, and the expensive asbestos exposure lawsuits – it remains in common use today in many parts of the world. One country that continues to import this substance and use it in a wide variety of products is the US. In fact, the US Geological Survey has estimated that about 1,820 tons of asbestos were imported and used in our country in 2007 alone.
What uses do companies find for this material, and what are the risks? Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are rarely comforting. Mesothelioma lawyers Williams Kherkher want as many people to be educated about asbestos and its risks as possible.
How Asbestos is Used
While there are regulations on the maximum amounts of asbestos that can be used in products, trace amounts are still found in a wide variety of places. Additionally, buildings or consumer goods that were built prior to the 1970 regulations may still contain large amounts of the toxin. Some of the more popular uses for asbestos include:
- Brake pads
- Duct tape
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Thermal pipe insulation
- Fireproof clothing, doors, and stage curtains
- Flooring adhesives
- Roofing tars and shingles
The Dangers of Handling Asbestos
Asbestos only poses a danger when it is inhaled. This means that as long as it is carefully encased or in good condition (not chipping or flaking) it is relatively safe to be near. However, with time it will become much more dangerous, as it will inevitably begin to break down.
If you find asbestos in your home or a product you use, never try to remove it on your own. Handling asbestos without the proper protection and training is very dangerous. It is also not safe to just leave it alone, even if it is not visibly chipped yet.
Instead, you should contact a professional right away to handle the problem. It may be best to have the asbestos completely removed, or it may only need to be encased in cement or another material. It is not possible to distinguish between asbestos and certain other materials on sight, so if you even suspect the material is in your home, contact an expert.
Contact Us
If you have been hurt by asbestos in your home, at work, or in a consumer product, contact asbestos attorney Williams Kherkher at 800-781-3955 for more information on fighting back.