Asbestos Felt
Myriad asbestos-containing products were once used in the building industry. Asbestos was, at one time, considered a miracle mineral and widespread use of the material in construction products stemmed from the fact that it was extremely durable and quite fire and heat resistant. It was often used as insulation to wrap items that generated lots of heat – like boilers, gaskets, or wiring – and was also used in items such as floor and ceiling tiles, roofing, siding, and more.
Asbestos felt is a product made by saturating felted asbestos with asphalt or other suitable binder, such as a synthetic elastomer. Asbestos felt has been in use since the early 20th century and has most often been used as a roofing material but might also have been used as an acoustic material in walls and floors. In some instances, it was used in pianos, applied to keep wood and metal parts from hitting each other and producing a clanking sound. Some asbestos felts contained as much as 90 percent asbestos.
Because of the way asbestos felt was used, it was often easily damaged. While in its intact state it did not present a problem, but when damaged, fibers could easily be released and become airborne, making them easy to inhale. In the roofing business, asbestos felt was often cut to fit a specific part of a roof. Once cut or sawed, the felt was also likely to release fibers.
Construction workers are at the highest risk for developing asbestos-related diseases from exposure to asbestos felt and other similar asbestos-containing materials. Unfortunately, many individuals in the construction industry worked with asbestos felt for years without being informed of its dangers. For decades, companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products knew of the hazards of the toxic mineral but failed to warn their employees or others who used the products. Because of this massive cover-up, asbestos workers are now suffering from serious diseases that are related to ongoing asbestos exposure, including asbestosis, pleural plaques, and fatal mesothelioma, a cancer for which the only known cause is exposure to asbestos.
Did you work with asbestos felt in the construction industry or elsewhere? If so, you may have been exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers and may be at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease. If you’ve already developed mesothelioma because of exposure to asbestos felt or similar products, you may have a right to monetary compensation for your suffering. For more information about your legal rights as an asbestos cancer sufferer, take a moment to fill out our information request form.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
