If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma, you will undoubtedly have numerous questions about the disease including how it was caused. Most folks understand it to be almost common knowledge that mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos but what many may not realize is just how prevalent asbestos was in so many common and everyday products people were exposed to.
Furthermore, mesothelioma victims should understand just how many different companies or other parties may have had a hand in exposing them to the asbestos that led to their serious medical condition. Often times, many of these parties can be held responsible if they played a role in the victim developing mesothelioma or another serious asbestos-related health condition.
Types of Asbestos Products
For many decades, asbestos was popular in construction and industrial applications because of its resistance to heat and use as an insulation. Asbestos made for a cheap and durable additive in many everyday applications including pipe fitting, carpentry, shipbuilding, and automotive parts.
Unfortunately, the prevalence of asbestos in many work environments put thousands of men and women at risk for serious medical problems. Some of the most common types of asbestos products include things like:
- Gaskets in pumps, compressors, pipes, engines, turbines, and automotive parts
- Roofing, flooring, and siding in homes and other buildings
- Cigarette filters
- Electric panels for power supply boxes
- Industrial insulations for roofs, walls, concrete, spackling, and pipes
- Military applications, particularly in ship building and weapons systems
Consumer Products Built with Asbestos
Asbestos was not only heavily used in industrial settings but in consumer products, as well, such as kitchens or cooking appliances. Fortunately, asbestos has been banned in almost all consumer products but during the 20th Century ordinary people could have been exposed to asbestos by appliances such as:
- Toasters
- Ranges and ovens
- Slow cookers
- Broilers
- Washers and dryers
Other household products that were built with asbestos for a time include oven mitts, ironing boards, electric blankets, portable heaters, and even children’s toys. Many decades ago, talcum-based beauty products contained asbestos and some victims have been awarded substantial compensation for the medical conditions they developed as a result of their exposure to those products.
Who Can I Hold Responsible for My Mesothelioma?
Makers of asbestos contaminated products have known for years about the dangers their products posed to consumers and workers yet did nothing to warn victims about the dangers to their health. Exactly who can be held responsible depends on the individual’s specific situation and where in their past the exposure might have occurred.
With the help of an experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorney, victims and their families can begin to answer some of these questions and put a case together to recover the compensation they deserve.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma and need legal help, contact the nationwide mesothelioma lawyers of The Throneberry Law Group for a free consultation. Our attorneys will work hard to get you and your family the compensation you deserve.