30 Sep Asbestos in Your Home | Where to Find It

Asbestos In Your home

“DANGER: CONTAINS ASBESTOS, A KNOWN CARCINOGEN” the sign on your drywall reads, or rather it would in a perfect world. In a perfect world, that sign wouldn’t be needed, nor would there be asbestos in your home. Unfortunately, asbestos can be found in a multitude of places throughout the home, and usually the contaminated objects in question are never labeled. Fortunately, there is information out there that can help you identify common sources of asbestos exposure in the home and around the world we interact with daily.

Asbestos has been mined for thousands of years across the world. Health problems associated with asbestos date back just as long with some cases being confirmed in Ancient Rome. Still, it took until the early 1900s for the medical community at large to really take note of the dangers that asbestos posed to those who were exposed to it. Despite warnings from doctors around the world, asbestos production increased as demand did for the fire-resistant, sound-insulating material. In fact, the US military at one point even mandated that all branches of the military use asbestos. As a consequence of what can only be called willful ignorance by the mining companies and manufacturers, world-wide asbestos made its way into everything from vehicles to clothing to construction materials.

The 1970s saw the first attempts by manufacturers and the public to move away from the heavy use of asbestos in construction and manufacturing but its use in construction was not fully phased out in the United States until the 1980s. As a consequence, many homes still contain asbestos.

Common places to find asbestos in your home:

• Drywall
• Insulation
• Flooring
• Paint
• Appliances
• Piping
• Electrical equipment

Similar to the household, asbestos can be found in older vehicles:

• Brake linings
• Gaskets
• Clutch facings

Baggett McCall Injury Attorneys

Of course, the older the home and its contents, the more likely it is to contain asbestos. Check the info-graphic for where to look out for asbestos at home. Remember to never handle asbestos yourself and only have it removed by a professional certified to clean up the hazardous material. If you have found asbestos in your home, don’t hesitate to contact Baggett McCall, and our experienced asbestos and chemical exposure attorneys. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or another asbestos related illness due to the negligence of others call us at 800-NEW-CLAIM. You may be entitled to financial compensation.