Textile Cloths
The use of asbestos in textiles of different varieties stretches all the way back to the Holy Roman Empire, when it is said that emperors used table clothes and napkins containing asbestos because they were durable and easy to clean. Stories of that era note that when the emperor and his guests were finished using these asbestos-containing textile cloths, they would simply through them into the fire, where they would later emerge clean, sparkling white, and unscathed!
Through the years of the twentieth century, widespread use of asbestos was made in the manufacture of textile cloths, which may have included items such as welding blankets, fire blankets, stage curtains, packing materials, garments for firefighters, and other similar products. Many individuals practicing a variety of trades may have encountered these textile cloths while on the job and may have been exposed to asbestos because of their work.
Of course, asbestos was included in these textile cloths because of its durability and its excellent heat- and fire-resistant properties. Usually, the asbestos was woven into the fabric or sprayed on the cloths. Certainly, this wonder mineral did indeed protect many from the ravages of heat and fire, but what most individuals didn’t know was that their use of textile cloths could also put them in danger.
These cloths were often manipulated to fit the application for which they were intended, and in the process, the cloths may have been torn or damaged and tiny asbestos fibers may have been released into the air. Once released, the fibers could have been inhaled by those using the textile cloths. Inhalation of asbestos fibers is very dangerous and may result in the later development of an asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma. Usually, these diseases lay dormant in the system for anywhere from 20 to 50 years, resulting in late diagnoses (usually stage 3 or 4) and few options for successful treatment.
Alarmingly, many individuals – particularly asbestos mine company owners and executives for asbestos product manufacturers – may have known about the dangers of working with asbestos yet allowed the practice to continue, despite the fact that in many instances a reasonable substitute product was available. This cover-up affected thousands of workers who could have been spared the development of debilitating asbestos cancer had their superiors been honest about the dangers of the toxic mineral.
Did you work with textile cloths while on the job? Have you been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma? If so, you may have a right to compensation, especially if you were a victim of the asbestos cover-up. A good asbestos attorney can help you determine your legal rights. For more details, order our free mesothelioma information kit today.
Last modified: October 15 2008.
