Wick
As long ago as during the years of the Roman Empire, asbestos was recognized for its unique properties. Stories tell the tales of Roman royalty who used asbestos table linens that were cleaned by throwing them into a blazing fire. They emerged unscathed and sparkling white!
No wonder people viewed asbestos as a miracle mineral and made such widespread use of the mineral, particularly after the Industrial Revolution. Any material that protected individuals from fire was considered indispensable and asbestos soon began appearing in a plethora of building products, from insulation and roofing to tiles and pipes.
One such material is asbestos wick. Wick was used as insulation material for pipes and was wrapped around heat-producing equipment, such as furnaces and boilers. The wick was also used to make asbestos rope, yarn, and other similar products. It generally contained about 10% to 30% asbestos, depending on the manufacturer and the intended use for the asbestos wick.
Like all asbestos products, the wick was safe unless it was cut or damaged, which occurred often. Those who worked with the wick often were required to cut the wick to fit the application and the very act of cutting may have caused sharp asbestos fibers to be released into the air. Also, wick that has aged may become crumbly or “friable”, also causing the subsequent release of dust and fibers.
Because asbestos fibers are small and sharp, it’s easy to inhale them. Once inhaled, the fibers cannot be expelled and may become lodged in the lungs. Though not everyone develops asbestos-related diseases after inhaling fibers from wick and other similar products, many individuals who are exposed eventually develop inflammation, which may result in difficulty breathing, chest pain, and diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma.
It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the general public became aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure. However, records show that – quite often – there were individuals who knew about the hazards but refused to share the information with their employees, usually in the interest of cutting costs and saving money. Unfortunately, this massive asbestos cover-up resulted in debilitating diseases for many who worked with the mineral on a daily basis.
Doctors have determined that no amount of exposure to asbestos is safe. Anyone who was subject to asbestos exposure may eventually develop an asbestos-related disease, even if the exposure was brief.
If you have mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos wick, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced asbestos attorney can help you determine your legal rights. Order our free mesothelioma resource kit today for more information on the disease.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
