Gold Bond Perfo-lyte
National Gypsum was a manufacturing company that produced several different products under their popular Gold Bond label. One such item was a type of plaster they called Perfo-lyte. It boasted several positive attributes such as being very strong, having great acoustical qualities and possessing a great resistance to fire. These impressive qualities were largely due to a naturally occurring mineral that was found in all of Gypsum's goods, asbestos.
Although today we recognize asbestos as being a very hazardous material, back in the early 1900's most people were unaware that it was toxic and a cause of mesothelioma. It was used in hundreds of different products because it was hardy, easy to work with and inexpensive. Not until the later 1970's did the general public begin to be informed of the dangers that came with using asbestos. By then many men and women were susceptible to the disease because they did take appropriate mesothelioma prevention measures when working with the material.
A solid piece of plaster did not pose any threat, but if the Perfo-lyte were to break, be sanded down or start to crumble, trace amounts of the mineral would escape and become airborne. They would then be easy to inhale, and produce serious illnesses in unsuspecting victims. Those who were subjected to this type of exposure often developed a potentially life threatening form of cancer known as Mesothelioma (including pericardial mesothelioma). Because researchers have not yet been able to find a cure for mesothelioma, the disease often comes with a poor prognosis from mesothelioma doctors. As such, mesothelioma life expectancy is short and number of survivors low.
By the 1970's National Gypsum stopped using asbestos in all of their products. Unfortunately, by that time it was impossible to tell how many people may have been affected by their plaster and other products. Efforts were made to remove and dispose of these items, but it is very probable that Perfo-lyte can still be found in homes and business throughout America.
When people began to get ill, they also started working with mesothelioma attorneys to file lawsuits against manufacturers of asbestos based products. Many personal injury claims were filed, as people sought monetary compensation for the pain and suffering they endured. If you or someone you love was exposed to any product that contained asbestos, you should know what your legal rights are. Find out by requesting one of our free brochures. It contains information on what your options are following exposure to asbestos products such as Gold Bond Perfo-lyte.
