Asbestos Lap

Why Was Asbestos Used in So Many Products?

Until the late 1970's, a multitude of products were made out of asbestos. It was a prominently used material for years because it was strong, pliable and able to resist intense heat and fire. Since it is also a naturally occurring mineral, asbestos was inexpensive to obtain, which made it even more popular with manufacturers across the nation.

What is Asbestos Lap?

Asbestos Lap was a type of material that included a very high percentage of asbestos. In fact, it was often made of nothing else. It was primarily used to help produce other products and acted as a base for cords, rope and many different items. All of these products therefore contained a high degree of asbestos. While these items were tough, durable and heat resistant, they did have one overwhelming and dangerous flaw.

Even though asbestos had been used since the late 1800's, it wasn't until the 1970's that most people began to realize it is actually a toxic substance and one of the primary causes of mesothelioma. The tiny fibers that make up asbestos can be inhaled accidentally and remain in the respiratory system for years. While there, they can do massive amounts of damage and develop into diseases. Mesothelioma (including peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma) is one of the more well known and dangerous types of cancer that can be caused by asbestos, and it has affected thousands of people, men and women alike. Many have lost their lives due to the fact that there is no mesothelioma cure. While some victims do go into mesothelioma remission, many do not and survival rates are low.

Asbestos and Corporate Greed

The sad reality of the matter is that many instances of these diseases could have and should have been avoided. When asbestos was originally found to one of the major mesothelioma risk factors, many companies immediately stopped using it while others followed their profit margins and kept it in production. Since asbestos has to be inhaled to do damage, the best mesothelioma prevention is the use of protective devices like a simple mask that covers the nose and mouth of workers.

Even if corporate executives had informed their employees of the possible danger, many of the existing cases of sickness could have been avoided by the use of protective gear.

You may have been employed at a company that produced Asbestos Lap or other asbestos based products. If so, you might be eligible for monetary compensation. Those who have been dealing with the affects of asbestos exposure can find out more about their rights and options by requesting our asbestos information kit. These kits are free and explain what options you have if you were made ill because of asbestos.