Contracting Cancer from Asbestos Insulation in Homes

Recently, public health experts estimated that a particular manufacturer of asbestos insulation for homes (referred to as “Mr. Fluffy”) in Canberra, Australia may be responsible for more cases of mesothelioma due to the loose-fill asbestos used. Specifically, researchers found an average concentration of 0.001 fibres per milliliter of air inside a house that contained the insulation, which correlates to roughly 16 instances of mesothelioma or lung cancer by asbestos in 100,000 people over a lifetime.

Asbestos in the United States

The issue of asbestos in homes is not just limited to Australia. Asbestos insulation in homes and offices (for thermal insulation) has been a huge source of exposure for many who built, lived, and worked in them. And although the European Union started to phase asbestos out of building products beginning in the 1970s, several thousand products that are manufactured in or imported into the United States still contain asbestos. These products include drywall compounds, vermiculite, vinyl floor tile and sheet flooring, window putty, cement board, asbestos cement pipes, stucco, furnace tape, and others. Roof sheets and shingles sometimes use a product called transite which contains asbestos, and fireproofing can also contain it.

Some of the companies known for manufacturing asbestos insulation in homes have included Owens Corning, Melrath Gasket Inc., and others. Some common brands include Gold Bond, Thermobestos, and others.

In particular, one of the biggest manufacturers of asbestos insulation—W.R. Grace & Company (producers of Zonolite insulation)—was the source for approximately 70 percent of all vermiculite used in home attics between 1919 and 1990, and the EPA estimates that 30 million homes may still have Zonolite in attics.

Difficulty Detecting

What’s especially frightening about asbestos still being used in manufacturing is just how difficult it is to detect: you typically need polarized light microscopy or transmission electron microscopy–procedures that can be expensive to use for testing in one’s home.

Lawsuits

People who discover that they have mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure have a good chance of being awarded monetary damages from the manufacturer and/or installation company (or an associated insurance company that assumes liability for them)—even if the company is no longer in business. But you must act quickly once you are diagnosed; for example, the statute of limitations is one year from diagnosis in Louisiana. Families can also bring suit for the wrongful death of their loved ones due to asbestos exposure.

New Orleans Mesothelioma Attorneys

In a landmark 1972 case, an asbestos manufacturer was found to have withheld knowledge of the harmful asbestos side effects. Since then, many individuals and their families have filed successful mesothelioma lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers, securing compensation for the devastation that can result from a mesothelioma prognosis and other asbestos exposure symptoms.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this deadly disease, a mesothelioma lawyer with Harrell & Nowak can help you secure the compensation you deserve. Contact an attorney with Harrell & Nowak today to learn how you and your loved ones can receive maximum compensation in the wake of a mesothelioma diagnosis.