Asbestos was present in many cork products made in the decades between the turn of the century and the mid-1980s. Cork is a very useful material, with properties such as high buoyancy, flexibility and near-impermeability. Cork can be easily manipulated and combined with other materials such as rubber and resin. It's used for much more than bottle-stoppers.

Cork Has Hundreds of Uses

Cork has applications such as:

• Corkboard — for walls, flooring, and insulation
• Cork coverings —for products such as gear cases and the cover plates of washing machines
• Cork-filled mastic — a sealant with many applications in the construction industry
• Automotive uses — e.g., brake pads gaskets, gauges, crank shaft bearing sealing
• Electrical products  — e.g., transformers, circuit breakers, as a sealant for cooling fluids
• Life jackets and buoys — the buoyancy of cork makes it a natural choice
• Marine applications — cork insulation in submarines and other vessels
• Aircraft and spacecraft  — protecting against intense heat and friction
• Bulletin boards, musical instruments joints

Cork and Asbestos Manufacturing

Cork and asbestos are both popular for their insulating properties. Many industrial companies manufacture both cork and asbestos products—such as cork sheets, gaskets, and mechanical packaging materials—for various uses.

Since about 1980, however, the use of asbestos has been severely curtailed because of its cancer-causing properties. Thousands of cases of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma have been attributed to asbestos exposure.

Millions of Tons of Asbestos Around Us

More than 30 million tons of asbestos were used in homes, schools, libraries, commercial buildings and facilities in the United States in the 1900s. Since the removal of asbestos from homes and schools has become a grave problem, it should be kept in mind that asbestos may be in cork products such as flooring in the same buildings. The removal of cork products may present the same risk as asbestos removal.

The same is true of corkboard, cork covering, and products with cork mastic. If a homeowner is not sure whether the cork products in his or her home contain asbestos, it's best to contact a professional asbestos removal service.

Learn More about Asbestos and Cork Products

If you're concerned about asbestos and about cork products in your home or your children's school, or if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, contact us for more information about your options.