Asbestos Finishing Cement
A large number of construction materials manufactured throughout the twentieth century contained asbestos. The mineral was used in these materials to make them stronger and more durable and also to make them more heat and fire resistant. Asbestos could be found in wallboard, roofing, floor and ceiling tiles, adhesive, and much more.
Asbestos finishing cement was a cement product applied to irregular surfaces to give them a smooth appearance. While some finishing cements did not make use of asbestos, others indeed contained the dangerous mineral. This meant that those who were responsible for the application of the cement – as well as those that manufactured the product – may have been exposed to toxic asbestos while performing their jobs. In addition, anyone who was exposed to asbestos finishing cement that was damaged and crumbling may have also inhaled toxic fibers that had become airborne.
Asbestos finishing cement was widely used throughout the twentieth century especially during the 50s and 60s when the housing boom in America was at its peak. The material was not only used in residential building but also in commercial construction as well. Regardless of where it was used, it presented health hazards to those who breathed in the asbestos fibers.
Many different companies manufactured asbestos finishing cement and continued to do so until the U.S. government issued warnings in the late 1970s about the hazards of asbestos. Ideally, we’d like to think that asbestos product manufacturers didn’t know they were causing harm to their employees and the consumers who purchased their products. However, documents show that many asbestos manufacturers knew about the dangers of the mineral as much as 20 to 30 years before those warnings were issued. Despite the information, however, they continued to make products that contained the dangerous material.
If manufacturers had heeded the warnings of doctors, scientists, and others who recognized asbestos’ hazards, many lives could have been spared because asbestos inhalation can lead to development of serious asbestos-related diseases, including pleural plaques, asbestosis, and even mesothelioma, a very aggressive cancer that kills quickly. Instead, manufacturers were interested in maintaining “the bottom line”, choosing profit over the lives of their employers and the end users of their products.
This selfish cover-up caused many to become ill, and in the last 50 years, myriad individuals have died of asbestos related diseases. Some experts believe that cases of mesothelioma may continue to rise, not only in the U.S. but in countries like England and Australia, where exposure was at its worse.
If you were exposed to asbestos finishing cement and have developed mesothelioma because of your exposure, you may be eligible for monetary compensation to help cover your medical and other expenses. For more information about your legal rights as a mesothelioma sufferer, order our free mesothelioma guide today.
Last modified: September 23 2008.
