The majority of mesothelioma victims and others who develop asbestos-related illness are those who have worked around asbestos. However, older homes and building often contain asbestos in their construction materials, and there are thousands of household products which contain the deadly mineral. In fact, there is a good chance that you have items in your home which contain asbestos right now. If you have developed an asbestos-related illness, an experienced California asbestos attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Work-related Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is heat and fire resistant. It is present in many industries and work environments including:
- Oil refineries
- Power plants
- Steel mills
- Auto manufacturing and repair
- Paper mills
- Shipyards
- Cement plants
- Construction
- Demolition
- Disaster response
Household Products Containing Asbestos
Most surprising to many of our clients is the fact that asbestos has been used in so many household products and that it is still in use to this day. Household products which often contain asbestos include:
- Children’s toys
- Hot pads and oven mitts
- Ironing boards
- Potting soil
- Packing material
- Fake snow
- Chalkboards
- Cork boards
- Talc powder
- Tape
- Yarn
- Textiles
- Rope
- Hair dryers
- Curling irons
- Table tops
- Small kitchen appliances such as toasters and toaster ovens
Construction Materials
Asbestos has been used in construction materials for every part of a house or building starting with the foundation, going all the way to roofing, and including every area in between including ductwork, electrical, insulation, and even decorative materials. In addition to being heat and fire resistance, asbestos is added to some materials because it can yield strength and flexibility. Construction materials which may contain asbestos include:
- Adhesives
- Paint
- Masonry fill
- Caulk
- Joint compounds
- Ceiling tiles
- Vinyl flooring
- Ceramic tile
- Sheetrock
- Insulation
- Electrical wire insulation
- Roofing felt
- Shingles
- Duct work
- Plaster
- Soundproofing material
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma or any asbestos-related illness, please call our California asbestos attorneys or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with our mesothelioma lawyers is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, in most cases we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a mesothelioma lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.