The manufacture of textured products with asbestos seemed like a good idea decades ago. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is extremely durable and resilient, and its fire-retardant and acid-resistant properties made it an attractive component for decorative products such as textured paints and textured coatings for ceilings and walls.

Textured Coatings for Ceilings

Textured products with asbestos were sprayed on, painted on, or otherwise applied to interior and exterior surfaces that themselves often contained asbestos. Millions of homes, offices, schools, libraries, and stores were built in the 1950s and later with decorative textured products that contained asbestos. "Popcorn" ceilings, the highly textured cottage cheese-looking ceilings that were very popular in the 50s, are a particular problem. They often contain asbestos.

Workers Were Affected

Construction workers whose jobs involved applying textured coatings and textured paints were sometimes at great risk of asbestos exposure. When asbestos fibers are in the air, they may be inhaled or swallowed by the people in the immediate area. The fibers can lodge themselves inside the body, where they can begin a disease process that may end in mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

It is often many years after the exposure that the symptoms of these asbestos-caused diseases finally become apparent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of asbestos in textured products in 1989, but by then the damage had already been done to many workers.

Removal of Textured Products with Asbestos

Another dangerous job is the removal of textured paints and textured coatings that contain asbestos. The buildings that contain textured products with asbestos are now decades old. They are often in need of renovation, and some are being demolished. When an asbestos-containing building component has deteriorated, and especially when it is being removed, the asbestos is disturbed — possibly releasing asbestos fibers into the air.

Asbestos removal can be done by non-professionals with special equipment, but if your home contains textured products with asbestos, you may want to call on a professional asbestos removal service for help.

If you have been exposed to textured paint or coatings with asbestos and developed mesothelioma, contact us today. We will be happy to discuss your financial options with you.