Tri-bestos
Generations of people have known the beneficial qualities of asbestos. Even ancient cultures used it to create cloth and other materials that were strong and able to resist fire. This plentiful mineral is commonly found in large natural deposits, allowing it to be excavated in a simple and cost effective manner. Accordingly, it was used as a major ingredient within a plethora of commodities when massive amounts of the material were found in the United States towards the end of the 1800's.
Before long, hundreds of items were being produced with asbestos as their base. Some products, such as Tri-bestos, were so recognized as being made out of the mineral that their very names reflected it. Whatever these goods were called, they all shared the traits of being tough, durable and able to hold together even in the most extreme heat. This made the products ideal for work places that utilized industrial equipment like boilers and furnaces, because they can withstand the fire that helps run the machinery.
Navy ships required a variety of wares that could endure severe heat, such as adhesives, cement, sealants and insulation. Tri-bestos was regularly found on these vessels and was used in the shipyards where they were built, maintained and repaired. This meant that any person who worked in and around these ships, including Navy veterans, spent time around asbestos laden items, and could therefore have inhaled microscopic bits of the mineral without even realizing it. Whenever a product that has this material inside of it is cut, sanded, torn or otherwise manipulated, trace amounts of it can break off, become airborne and mix in with the oxygen. People regularly breathed in particles that were too small to be seen by the human eye.
Unfortunately, even as small as these dust particles were, they were extremely hazardous. That fact wasn't widely recognized until the 1970's, so millions of people were subjected to inhaling a substance that was actually poisonous. These individuals began to get sick with respiratory disorders, and some of the more advanced cases even developed into an incurable cancer called mesothelioma, which was responsible for killing many people who worked in the maritime industry and it was some time before it was really known how mesothelioma affects veterans. Mesothelioma has no cure. As a result, those diagnosed are often given a poor prognosis and there tends to be few mesothelioma survivors. Treatment at some of the nation's top mesothelioma clinics includes experimental options like mesothelioma immunotherapy, conventional treatment with extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurodesis and advanced chemotherapy drug treatment with Alimta®, Navelbine and Onconase. View our mesothelioma resources section or mesothelioma treatment guide for more information about treatment.
Following this revelation, products such as Tri-bestos were removed from naval vessels, but the damage had already been done. Victims started to file lawsuits against the companies that created the contaminated goods. Hundreds of these manufacturers resorted to securing bankruptcy protection, but they were still forced to create trust funds to pay off the valid claims against them.
Were you or a loved one made ill because of goods that were made out of asbestos? If the answer is yes, and you would like to find out more about your rights, then request our informative brochure online. They are free to anyone and will be delivered directly to you.
