What Products Contain Asbestos? What You Need to Know

While asbestos was banned in the U.S. in 1989, there are still products made with it on the market. ⁽¹⁾

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states, “Exposure to asbestos is known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and laryngeal cancer, and it is linked to more than 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.” ⁽²⁾

Read on to learn about what products contain asbestos — the exposure to them could give you these fatal cancers.

Introduction

Occupational exposure to asbestos increases the risk for lung-related cancers. ⁽³⁾ Products containing asbestos are common in industries like construction. Just imagine this scenario:

You are remodeling an older home, built before the 1980s. The home has hallways and bedrooms with textured ceilings. As you work on them, the rough texture breaks down into a powdery dust. Asbestos fibers in this dust are released into the air which you inhale. Years later, you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer.

Understanding Asbestos

The more you know about asbestos-containing products, the better your chances to protect your health. Limit your accidental exposure by understanding what products historically contained it.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of natural fibers resistant to heat and corrosion. Exposure to asbestos fibers comes from breathing them in. ⁽⁴⁾

“Asbestos fibers induce various forms of DNA damage in mammalian cells,” says research published in the American Association for Cancer Research’s journal. ⁽⁵⁾ Like other cancers, asbestos cancers involve uncontrolled cell growth. ⁽⁶⁾

Everyday Products That Could Contain Asbestos

Seemingly harmless products can still contain asbestos.

One example is talcum powder. Talc is a natural mineral fiber, often containing asbestos. Talc is used in powders and cosmetics because it helps to keep skin dry. ⁽⁷⁾

Asbestos also can be found in these categories of products: ^{(8) (9)}

• Building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and cement products).
• Fireproofing products (fire doors, roofing, drywall, flooring, and clothing).
• Friction products (automobile clutch, brake, gasket, and transmission parts).
• Heat and corrosion resistant products, including fabrics.
• Insulation (furnaces, boilers, and pipes).
• Packaging (packing materials, duct tape, and plastics products).
• Coatings (paint and sprays).

Regulatory Bodies

One regulatory body, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), systematically tests substances, like talc, for asbestos content. ⁽¹⁰⁾

Another regulatory body, the EPA, protects people and the environment from health risks. It manages substances — like asbestos — through regulations and bans. The EPA imposes fines or penalties for violations of its implementing regulations.

Is It Illegal to Sell or Use Products Containing Asbestos Today?

While you can no longer sell products containing asbestos, despite its ban, products containing asbestos are still in use today. ⁽¹¹⁾

Asbestos In Water Supply

Bans cannot keep asbestos out of water supplies. Asbestos continues to be a worldwide water supply issue.

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes, “the main source of asbestos in drinking-water is asbestos–cement pipes in the distribution system. … where pipes are already degraded, actions to control water corrosivity will not prevent asbestos fibre release from the pipes.” ⁽¹²⁾

7 Top Asbestos-Containing Products

Historically, thousands of commercial products contained asbestos. While asbestos has been banned, many of these asbestos containing products remain in place and removal or disturbance of same can lead to exposure to asbestos fibers. Some of these common asbestos-containing products may surprise you.

Here is a partial list: ⁽¹³⁾

1. Chalkboards and Electrical Products

• Cloth wire insulation.
• Electrical breakers.
• Electrical panels, arc chutes, and partitions.

2. Heating and Cooling System Products

• Heat shields made of paper and corrugated cardboard.
• HVAC vibration dampeners.
• Tank casings.
• Thermal taping compounds.

3. Elevator Equipment

• Elevator car brake shoes.
• Elevator equipment panels.

4. Industrial Use Products

• Beverage filters.
• Friction materials.

5. Laboratory Products

• Heat resistant gloves.
• Laboratory hoods.
• Laboratory tables and countertops.

6. Table Pads and Wall Products

• Decorative plaster.
• Caulking and putties.
• Spackling compounds.
• Vinyl wall coverings.
• Wall penetration packing materials.
• Wallboard or sheetrock.
• Wallboard joint compound.

7. Window Glazing and Vermiculite

• Fireplace decorations.
• Gardening products.

All of these asbestos-containing items could potentially cause you to develop cancer. Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma.

How to Protect Yourself

Identifying asbestos is the first step in protecting yourself. ⁽¹⁴⁾

How Can I Identify If a Product in My Home or Workplace Contains Asbestos?

Know where to look to identify asbestos. Sometimes it is in ceilings with a rough and bumpy texture. Also, materials damaged by water or other natural events — or that appear to be cracked or decaying — should be viewed as suspect. ⁽¹⁵⁾

How Should Asbestos-Containing Products Be Handled or Removed?

Whenever dealing with suspected asbestos-containing materials, trained abatement professionals wear gloves, safety goggles, disposable overalls, rubber boots, and a “respirator with a HEPA filter,” advises one environmental hazards service company. ⁽¹⁶⁾

If asbestos is present, it is best to hire a trained professional to remove it. In the meantime, the EPA suggests these precautions to guard against exposure: ⁽¹⁷⁾

• Do not dust, vacuum, or sweep suspected asbestos debris.
• Do not saw, sand, scrape, or drill materials you think may contain asbestos.
• Do not use abrasives, brushes, or power strippers to remove wax from flooring, since it may contain asbestos.
• Do not sand, level, or remove flooring, in case it contains asbestos.
• Do not track asbestos material through the building on your shoes, clothes, or tools.

What Steps Should I Take If I’m Exposed to Asbestos?

Should you unfortunately be exposed to asbestos, immediately wash your body and clothing. Then consult with your doctor. ⁽¹⁸⁾

If you were exposed to asbestos and already were diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, you need to consider your legal options.

I Have Already Been Diagnosed: Do I Have a Case?

A good attorney can help you figure out where your exposure came from, and how to best present your legal case.

Asbestos exposure cases are often complex.

Look for an attorney who is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits. You need a law firm with attorneys who work to get you the optimum outcome, in terms of both justice and financial compensation.

Weitz & Luxenberg

Weitz & Luxenberg has successfully litigated personal injury cases for almost 40 years. We have an entire team of lawyers focused on asbestos litigation. And a group of them are focused on talcum powder.

We have represented numerous construction workers, veterans, and their families. Our clients are communities and individuals — like you — who have been victimized by the carelessness and greed of companies only concerned with maximum profit. Time and again, we obtain significant financial compensation for our clients.

Our attorneys walk you through every step of the legal process. Call (833) 977-3437 today or fill out the form on this page