Thermalcoat
For years asbestos was lauded as one of the most beneficial resources ever discovered. It has a great deal of natural strength, so any product that is made out of the mineral was strong, durable and built to last. Huge deposits of it were found in readily accessible areas all over the United States, which made it relatively inexpensive to mine. Companies that specialized in retrieving this naturally occurring material were generally able to make millions in the process. Asbestos is unaffected by heat, and it even had physical characteristics that allowed it to act as a fire retardant. This last factor made it especially valuable for products that were used in oil refineries, power plants, ship yards, factories, chemical plants and other locations that used equipment which operated at extremely high temperatures.
Insulation was one of the first products that took advantage of the beneficial qualities asbestos provided, and for decades it was used in almost every type of insulating item. Among them was a liquid based insulation called Thermalcoat, which spread a measured coating over anything that needed to be secured and forced to maintain a steady and safe temperature. While it was being applied, tiny particles of asbestos could easily become separated and float up into the air. The same could happen after the coating had dried if it were to crack, chip or come apart in any way. These microscopic bits are too small to be seen and are easy to inhale, but once they are inhaled, they pose a serious health hazard.
Research regarding asbestos was a slow process, so it was nearly a century after the material was put into wide use that a discovery was made that changed everything. Scientists found that the crystal fibers that make up the mineral are pathogenic, meaning that they could cause diseases. Exposure to even small amounts of the mineral is one of the primary causes of pulmonary disease like mesothelioma, a life-threatening cancer. There are various types of mesothelioma cancer including peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Even people who were lucky enough not to develop such serious conditions still suffered. They often were left with chronic respiratory disorders like asbestosis, which made the very act of breathing difficult, labored and painful. Everyone who used Thermalcoat or other items that contained the poisonous substance was put at risk of injury or death.
Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency eventually banned the material from being used in any product, but by that point most everyone knew that they should do everything possible to avoid it. Sadly, many people who were aware of its hazardous qualities continued to work with the mineral, even though they did not realize it. This was because some manufacturers opted to keep asbestos in their goods and didn't want to spend any additional money to provide even the most basic protective gear. All workers would have needed were masks to cover their mouths and nasal passages while they were around the poisonous materials.
If you were harmed because of Thermalcoat or similar products, you may wish to do what so many others have done and work with a mesothelioma attorney to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. We can help explain your rights and let you know what options you have with our informational brochure. It is available to anyone at no charge, so request your copy now.
