T-Bar Ceiling Tiles
The construction industry historically was one of the biggest users of products containing asbestos. Such products were used both inside and outside homes, office buildings, schools, factories, and other various facilities and structures.
Floor and ceiling tiles, for example, often contained asbestos and many old floors and ceilings found in schools and other facilities might still contain the mineral. One of the most common uses of asbestos occurred in t-bar ceiling tiles, also known as a “drop” or “suspended” ceilings because a t-bar-like grid held tiles in place instead of allowing them to be affixed directly to the inside of the ceiling. Therefore, there was an empty space between the ceiling and the tiles.
This kind of ceiling was quite popular in the 1950s through 1970s and the lightweight tiles that fit into the metal grid often contained asbestos. These tiles were especially dangerous as they could be easily moved, bumped, or otherwise damaged, causing asbestos fibers to be released into the air. Furthermore, many of these ceilings are still in place in schools, offices, and homes and the t-bar ceiling tiles are, by now, probably old and crumbling, also prompting the release of airborne fibers. Great care should be taken when these ceilings are repaired or replaced, especially when the tiles are friable. Protective gear should always be worn, particularly respirators or face masks.
Contractors, construction workers, tile setters and others who work with t-bar ceiling tiles are especially susceptible to developing asbestos-related diseases due to their exposure to the toxic mineral. As a matter of fact, construction workers have one of the highest rates of mesothelioma among tradespeople who work in various industries. Each year, 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in the United States die of asbestos cancer and many of them are employed in the construction field.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that most oncologists will agree is very difficult to treat, usually because it lays dormant in the human body for up to 50 years and is not diagnosed until it has reached stage 3 or 4. At that point, few choices are available for treatment and the traditional therapies such as chemo and radiation are often used only for palliative measures – to make the patient more comfortable - but offer no chance for a cure. Though progress is being made in the area of new drugs and treatments, most mesothelioma victims still die within about a year of their diagnosis.
Sadly, research has shown that many individuals, particularly company executives and others in similar positions, knew about the dangers of working with asbestos but didn’t share the information with their employees or with the general public. The result of this cover-up was the development of asbestos-related diseases and the death of many individuals who wouldn’t have died if they had known all the facts.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to exposure to t-bar ceiling tiles and other similar products, you should be informed as to your legal rights, especially if you were a victim of the asbestos cover-up. Take a moment to order our free mesothelioma information packet to learn more about the disease and your right to monetary compensation.
Last modified: October 15 2008.
