PAPER ASBESTOS

Asbestos paper is a deadly carcinogen, and no paper lion

Thousands of workers involved in manufacturing paper products containing asbestos, especially those who mixed ingredients to make asbestos paper, were exposed to high levels of toxic fibers, putting them at great risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Many of these workers died prematurely as a result of occupational asbestos exposure brought on by unsafe work conditions. By 1980, the Consumer Product Safety Commission asked nine U.S. manufacturers of paper asbestos products to cease their sales to home buyers.

Paper asbestos products still linger in homes

June 22, 2010 – As ridiculous as it sounds today, thermal paper products were once manufactured with asbestos fibers, a material recognized the world over as a deadly carcinogen responsible for 10,000 deaths every year.

Transferring images prior to the 1970s required high temperatures, so certain paper manufacturers mixed asbestos fibers into the paper to give strength to their products and to protect against any possibility of a fire hazard.

Thirty years ago, paper made of asbestos was commonly used as pipe insulation, to back fiberboard, or in other thermal paper products. For example, gaskets used in engines, pumps and other types of machinery were often made of thermal paper created with the deadly mineral.

Paper asbestos product disposal

Asbestos paper may still be found in thousands of consumers’ homes and should be removed only by professional asbestos abatement companies. Fortunately, thermal paper products that contain asbestos are often clearly labeled.

If you encounter any thermal paper products labeled asbestos in your home or workplace, government agencies recommend you leave it alone. By law, disposing asbestos materials during home improvement projects must be conducted by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

Tests conducted by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration showed that asbestos fibers were released into the air during such simple activities as when the paper was folded, cut or torn.

Accidental inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can cause asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer diagnosed in some 3,000 individuals every year in the United States.

Legal options

If you worked with asbestos paper products in the past, and have recently been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you are eligible to receive a free appraisal of your case and eligibility to receive financial compensation for your injuries.

Weitz & Luxenberg will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you and your family receive the maximum amount you are entitled to. Please know, there is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or settlement in your favor.