Textile Garments
Garments fashioned from textiles containing asbestos were used for several decades in hopes of protecting individuals from the ravages of extreme heat and fire. Asbestos historically was one of the best fire-resistant materials ever discovered and it saved many workers in different industries from serious injury. Industries that used asbestos-containing textile garments included firefighters, power plant workers, refinery employees, chemical manufacturers, and others who encountered the risk of burns and other similar hazards while on the job. Textile garments made with asbestos might have included aprons or lab coats, mittens or gloves, full body suits, shoes covers, and face masks.
While most workers thought that they were being protected by the asbestos contained in those textile garments, others knew that the miracle mineral may have also been causing problems, particularly health-related ones. Investigations conducted throughout the last 30 years indicate that many individuals in high positions knew about the dangers of using asbestos to make textile garments and other products but refused to share the information with others in the hopes of maintaining good profits. While these executives were counting their dollars, tradespeople and others who worked with asbestos were being sickened by the inhalation of asbestos fibers.
If asbestos is such a miracle mineral, why did it make people sick? The answer is simple. The fibers that make up asbestos are tiny and sharp and can be easily be inhaled by anyone who comes in contact with the toxic mineral. These shards would travel through the airway and become imbedded in the lungs or the lining of the lungs, known as the mesothelium. In some cases, the fibers also traveled to the peritoneum or pericardium, the linings of the heart and abdomen, respectively. Once they landed and became imbedded, it was impossible to expel the fibers. After some time, they would cause inflammation and painful scarring of the lungs, which could result in coughing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and other debilitating symptoms. In some cases, the inflammation would lead to the formation of tumors and the development of the cancer mesothelioma. Meso, as it is often called, is a serious and difficult to treat cancer for which the prognosis is almost always grim. In some cases, it takes up to 50 years to discover the mesothelioma. By that time, the cancer has reached its later stages and there is little or no hope for survival.
All of the aforementioned industries where textile garments may have been used (power plants, refineries, chemical companies, etc.) have particularly high rates of mesothelioma among former employees, especially those who worked in their fields prior to 1980, before asbestos warnings were issued to the general public. Today, these individuals are paying with their lives even though their superiors sometimes knew that their workers were being harmed by asbestos.
If you used textile garments made with asbestos during your employment and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should take a few moments to learn about your legal rights and your potential right to compensation for your injuries and suffering. For further details, order our free mesothelioma information packet.
Last modified: September 23 2008.
