What is Asbestos
Frequently Asked Asbestos Questions
Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers and can be separated into thin, durable threads. Asbestos fibers do not conduct electricity and are resistant to fire, chemicals, and heat. For these reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many industries and a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. If asbestos fibers are breathed in, they can cause asbestosis (scarring of the lung tissue), mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies have banned several Asbestos products and manufacturers have also voluntarily limited uses of Asbestos. Still, Asbestos is commonly found today in older homes and in a number of materials. The sad fact is many suspected a link between Asbestos exposure and lung disease long before preventative measures were put in place. Many businesses made little or no effort to protect workers from breathing in Asbestos particles, putting profits ahead of health and safety. Yet many of these same companies continue to deny medical claims from former employees who suffer from Asbestos-related illnesses.
There are two subgroups of asbestos: chrysotile, which has curly fibers and is in the serpentine family of minerals; and amphibole asbestos, which has straight, needle-like fibers and includes anthophyllite, actinolite, tremolite, amosite and crocidolite asbestos. Chrysotile asbestos has been used predominantly in commercial applications around the world.
Our attorneys will not allow Asbestos victims to suffer with financial uncertainty. Our nationally experienced Asbestos attorneys understand the precedent for Asbestos-related cases, and can recommend a course of legal action.
