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Finishing Cement
The finishing process is the final step to creating a good looking concrete surface. This process creates the texture and look of the final product. Cement itself is used in the concrete mixture which is used to fill extra spaces and produce the top surface layer which is visible.
Just like any other type of concrete based product, finishing cement must be tough and durable. It is made out of sand, limestone and other materials that will harden and last for many years. At the start of the 20th century, it also regularly contained a naturally occurring mineral that was strong yet pliant, and even resistant to fire: asbestos.
Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers or particles. They cling together tightly, but they can break apart and float in the air. While airborne, these particles can easily be inhaled by people without their knowledge. A solid piece of cement will securely hold in these fibers, but they would be released while the cement was being mixed, or anytime it was cracked, broken or chipped. Untold numbers of people breathed in these fibers as a result of working with, or just being around Finishing Cement. That's where the problem began.
Nobody realized it originally, but asbestos is a toxic material. Everyone who ingested it became a potential victim of tissue scarring or diseases like asbestosis or Mesothelioma. These conditions are very serious, and can be deadly. It took until the 1970's for this knowledge to become widespread. Tragically, even when companies that produced products that contained the poisonous material were notified of the dangers, some continued to use it, allowing employees and customers to be exposed to the hazardous fibers.
As the general public became aware of this issue, a great outrage swept the nation. Class action lawsuits were filed by the thousands as more and more people became sick and lost loved ones. Hundreds of the companies who manufactured these items declared bankruptcy, usually in a way that allowed them to set up a trust fund to pay off victims and continue to operate free from debt.
It can take years and even decades for signs of asbestos poisoning to become apparent. Therefore, if you worked at a facility that produced Finishing Cement or any other product that contained the mineral, your health may be at risk. See a doctor to be certain, and if you have developed any illnesses because of exposure, you may have legal recourse. Find out what your legal rights are and more by ordering one of our free informational kits.