JM 301 Cement
JM 301 Cement was a heavy duty product that contained a mineral known as asbestos. It was included to help strengthen the mixture, and to make it impervious to excessive heat and fire. The cement was powerful, inexpensive to produce and used in locations all across America.
Asbestos is a material that is found in large natural deposits. It is strong, easy to mold into any shape and it can survive even the harshest conditions. These tremendous qualities made asbestos one of the most sought after resources of all time. For decades miners unearthed as much of the mineral as they could get their hands on, and sold it to manufacturers nationwide. Had it not been for one unfortunate factor that could not be ignored (i.e. asbestos is one of the major mesothelioma causes), asbestos would still be in wide use today.
Though it was not realized for nearly a century after asbestos was incorporated into a variety of American made products, it is actually a poisonous material. The fibers that make up the mineral can be inhaled easily, where they may scar delicate lung tissue, create respiratory problems and develop into cancer. Mesothelioma, including pericardial mesothelioma, is a well-known, incurable disease that is a direct result of this exposure. People that develop mesothelioma tend to have a short life expectancy because there is no cure. Mesothelioma doctors are often put in the positon of having to deliver a poor prognosis, because the disease is often diagnosed at advanced stages due to a long latency period. Our mesothelioma treatment guide provides more detailed information about mesothelioma and our mesothelioma resources section provides links to other helpful organizations.
During the 1970's this horrifying fact was finally brought to light in the US. By then there were thousands of documented cases about people, including men and women, who were harmed by products such as JM 301 Cement. When it was being mixed, asbestos fibers could be released into the air in large quantities. And though it was completely safe in solid form, if it was sanded, cracked or broken in any way, more of the hazardous fibers could escape. It was clear that the use of this dangerous material must stop.
Unfortunately, some manufacturers continued to include it in their product lines even though they understood the dangers it presented. Commonly, employees were not even warned of the hazardous substance they were working with. All they would have needed to do was wear protective gear to keep safe, but since they were never told these employees were needlessly endangered. These people took the only recourse they had available and filed personal injury claims against the companies that had harmed them.
Today, lawsuits continue to be filed by mesothelioma attorneys against manufacturers who used asbestos. Some people were exposed years ago, but did not develop symptoms of diseases for more than a decade. Others are unfortunate enough to stumble across contaminated goods that are still found in a multitude of locations. If either of those scenarios are applicable to you, there are options available. You might even be eligible for monetary compensation. To find out how to pursue your own claim, and other important details, contact us today for our free informational brochure.
