Thermal products and asbestos seemed like a natural match. Asbestos is a practically indestructible, extremely heat-resistant and friction-resistant material that has been used in hundreds of thermal products. Unfortunately, the benefits of asbestos are far outweighed by its risks — asbestos exposure can cause severe, even life-threatening diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

A Wide Range of Thermal Products

Just a few examples of thermal products in which asbestos may be present are:

• Thermal paper products
• Thermal spray
• Thermal taping compounds
• Thermal insulation products
• Cement block insulation
• Pipe covering
• Sprayed-in insulation

Asbestos Exposure from Thermal Products

The problem with asbestos-containing thermal products is that when asbestos deteriorates or is manipulated, the nearly invisible asbestos fibers may be released into the air, where they can remain for hours or even days. When humans or animals inhale or swallow these fibers, the fibers can stay stuck in the lungs or other internal organs, starting a disease process that may take years to become evident. Mesothelioma, for example, is nearly always caused by asbestos exposure, and it can take decades to manifest.

Thermal products that contain asbestos are all around us, in the buildings where we live, sleep, take classes, work, and enjoy ourselves. Thermal products in the walls, on the ceilings, covering the heating and plumbing systems, surrounding the boiler or furnace, and in the bricks or stucco are just a few examples of the presence of asbestos in our lives.

Thermal Spray and Thermal Paper Products

Of the many thermal products with asbestos that are in existence, thermal spray and thermal paper products have been especially widely used, because of their many applications and their ease of use. Asbestos added to a spray or paper product makes it stronger, more durable, and very heat-resistant.

Working with Asbestos Thermal Products

The men and women who worked with asbestos thermal products frequently or even on a daily basis are at risk for developing an asbestos-caused disease such as mesothelioma. The work may have been the installation, maintenance or repair of asbestos thermal products, or nowadays it may be the removal of hazardous thermal products or other asbestos-containing materials.

Contact Us Today

If you have concerns about your exposure to asbestos thermal products, or if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact us today to learn more about the resources—financial and more—that may be available to you.

Related Asbestos Thermal Product News