Asbestos Lawsuit

Why is Asbestos Even Around?

Everyone has seen and read countless news stories regarding asbestos and its link to seriously harmful and sometimes deadly side effects. Specifically, asbestos has been strongly linked to the development of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Its dangers are known around the world, and its use is dissipating rapidly due to health concerns and potential liability exposure on the part of those who install it or are responsible for people being exposed to it.

Given asbestos wretched reputation, one could logically ask why it's even around and prevalent in any sense. Below we'd like to offer you a brief look at asbestos as a substance and provide you with a brief overview of why it was ever put in a position to cause these health problems in the first place.

Asbestos' Nature

Asbestos is actually an all-encompassing term that's used to describe six fibrous minerals that occur naturally, and it's accessed by mining. The names of the six minerals that are part of the "asbestos family" are chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophylitte and actinolite. After these minerals are mined, they're typically combined with a substance that holds them together and then sold on the open market.

Of the six minerals listed above, chyrstolite is by far the most commonly used form of asbestos, and estimates state that it accounts for more than 90% of all the asbestos currently on the market. Not to mention, the most dangerous form of asbestos is the kind where several of the minerals are combined into one substance.

Why it was Used

Asbestos as a substance hit its peak in terms of its prevalence in the 20th Century, specifically from the 1940's into the 1970's. At that point, health concerns regarding asbestos began to arise, and since then there have been abatement programs in place in order to remove this substance and thereby prevent exposure to unsuspecting victims.

Asbestos was popular because its natural qualities lend themselves well to building and building materials. Asbestos fibers are strong, resistant to fires and do not corrode easily, which made it a natural fit for such items as plumbing, insulation, ceiling tiles and fire prevention sprays. However, obviously, these products are not nearly as popular as they once were.

Overall

At one time, asbestos was a commonly-used substance for the reasons listed above. However, the extreme danger in which its presence places humans required its large-scale removal. If you have been harmed by asbestos exposure, you may have grounds for an asbestos lawsuit. Contact a mesothelioma attorney at Williams Kherkher immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.