The Asbestos Disaster - Who Is To Blame

The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians were all aware of the health dangers of asbestos. It seems strange that the asbestos industry in many parts of the world chose to ignore the risks.

Even if the ancient wisdom had been lost, insurance companies were refusing to insure asbestos workers, or charging higher premiums for them by the 1920's. 50 Years later some companies in the asbestos industry were still doing nothing to protect their workers.

To be fair, the workers themselves had the same access to information as the companies, so must also take responsibility for their actions in deciding to work in a dangerous industry. In many respects that decision was similar to the decision that many people still take on a daily basis today - to smoke a cigarette. The apparent benefit of taking home a pay check overrode the distant possibility of death for those workers and their families, just as the immediate pleasure of a cigarette does for smokers today.

Having said that I believe that the employers have a duty to ensure that their workers are in as safe an environment as possible, and that they are aware of the risks, so that if they decide to work there, they are making an informed decision. Clearly this did not always happen, and as a result the industry is going through a series of lawsuits, where people who have become ill are suing for compensation. Many companies around the world have already gone bankrupt as a result of this, and the process appears to be continuing. In the US there is legislation proposed to pay compensation from a central fund, but this proposal seems unlikely to succeed because of the level of agreement that will be required on how the money in the fund will be collected.

Both workers and employers in all types of business would do well to reflect on this sorry saga where no-one with the possible exception of a few lawyers, will ever feel that their decision to either work in, or employ people in a dangerous environment, was justified.

The asbestos site makes it easy to find the information you need if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos. To receive your free 35 page support guide visit the asbestos cancer [http://www.asbestosabc.com/asbestos-cancer.html] website.

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The Dangers of Asbestos-Contaminated Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn ceilings were very popular in the 1950's all the way through the early part of the 1980's. It was a trendy fashion within the home during this time and many people opted to have popcorn ceiling installed throughout their homes. Besides the fact that they were trendy, they also absorbed noise well and could hide imperfections. Of course, cleaning the ceiling were a major drawback because they did not have a smooth surface on which to work when cleaning.

Contaminated Ceilings and Asbestos

Many ceilings were installed using asbestos fibers because, at the time of the installation, no one was aware of the dangers of asbestos. It was actually touted as a very good invention because of its anti-flame properties.

The biggest danger of asbestos exposure is when it is disturbed. For this reason, those homes and apartment buildings that had the asbestos popcorn ceilings installed face a removal process, but the tenants cannot live in the home during the process.

Unsuspecting Homeowners

It was unknown for many years that the presence of asbestos can expose those who disturb it to many health problems, including mesothelioma cancer, heart conditions and breathing conditions. As the popcorn ceiling craze ended, many homeowners opted to remove the popcorn ceilings, but unbeknownst to them lurked a deadly substance. Most homeowners wore no protective covering, and dust within the home was present for everyone to inhale.

Many people who had no idea that their ceilings were made with asbestos or knew about the dangers associated with it, filed lawsuits because they had been exposed to a potentially hazardous material when they replaced their ceilings.

Does Your Ceiling Contain Asbestos?

If your popcorn ceiling was installed between the 1950's and the 1980's, it may contain asbestos because asbestos was widely used for many of these ceilings. The only way to know is to have a certified specialist come into your home and test the ceiling for the presence of asbestos.

If your ceiling does contain asbestos, you can choose to have it removed, but should not attempt this yourself because, as it is removed, the asbestos is disturbed and at its most toxic. Normally professionals will completely seal off one room and remove the ceiling and before replacing the ceiling, remove all the asbestos-contaminated ceilings and then move to the next room. It is a lengthy process to have asbestos removed, but well worth the effort to have the asbestos out of your home.

Final Thoughts

If you have replaced your own ceiling and have no way of knowing whether it contained asbestos, you should regularly be checked for the various conditions associated with exposure to asbestos. The effects of asbestos exposure may not become a health concern for you until years after inhaling the asbestos.

If you removed a popcorn ceiling that was installed between the 1950's and 1980's, you may want to contact a law firm to learn more about your options because you may have exposed yourself and your family to deadly toxins.

If you have been exposed to asbestos you may want to consider the possibility of filing a mesothelioma lawsuit to seek compensation for damages.

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