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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
 What
is Asbestos?
as·bes·tos
( s-b s t s,
z-)
(1) A common form of magnesium silicate which was used in various construction
products due to it's stability and resistance to fire. Asbestos exposure by
inhaling loose asbestos fibers is associated with various forms of lung disease.
(2) The name given to certain inorganic minerals when they occur in fibrous
form. Though fire-resistant, its extremely fine fibers are easily inhaled, and
exposure to them over a period of years has been linked to cancers of the lung
or lung-cavity lining and to mesothelioma.
 There are six
types of asbestos - three of which have been used commercially. These are white
(chrysotile), blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos. Over 90% of all
asbestos ever used was the white asbestos.
Asbestos is a mineral that was crushed and milled
into a fine particulate, and shipped to corporations for building and insulation
materials. Asbestos mines around the world, many in Canada, produced over 250
million tons of asbestos for use in the United States between 1890 and 1970.
Asbestos was added to a variety of products including insulation, automotive
brakes, fireproofing, pipe covering, cements, refractory materials, gaskets,
floor tiles and joint compounds.
Click here for a list of asbestos containing products.
 During the installation, repair, maintenance, renovation and removal of asbestos
materials, the products were cut, scraped, sanded and otherwise altered. Some
materials, such as cements, were mixed at job sites using raw asbestos fibers.
These processes created dust, which was breathed in by the laborers working with
and around these materials. Dust from these products also traveled throughout
buildings and factories and ships, and remained airborne for weeks. When swept,
these materials were re-suspended in the air -- where they were breathed in
again by workers in the vicinity.
The dangers of asbestos were known to the companies that made these products as
early as the 1920s. However, asbestos was sold and used without warnings up
until the 1980s -- when most asbestos products were banned in the United States
and other countries. Alternative materials were available that could have been
used in place of asbestos.
 A wide array of workers were exposed to asbestos including shipyard workers,
factory workers, pipefitters, sheet metal workers, plumbers, laborers,
machinists, mechanics, powerhouse workers, and electricians. One cloud of dust
from asbestos products can contain millions or billions of fibers, and even a
small amount of asbestos can cause lung damage. Mesothelioma has been diagnosed
in family members of workers exposed to asbestos,
learn more.
Often, individuals won't recall how they were exposed to asbestos, and may
believe that they were not exposed to asbestos at all. A careful examination and
review of a person's work and life history often reveals exposures to asbestos
products that may not be readily apparent.
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Asbestos & Mesothelioma Medical FAQs
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What is asbestos?
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What types of injuries
are caused by asbestos?
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What trades and
occupations work with asbestos?
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What types of products
contain asbestos?
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Could I have been
exposed to asbestos in my home?
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Why was asbestos used in building and insulation
products?
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What did companies know and when did they know it?
- What is Mesothelioma? How do you get Mesothelioma?
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What are the symptoms
of Mesothelioma?
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How is Mesothelioma
diagnosed?
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What is the medical staging of
Mesothelioma?
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What are the
treatment options for those diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
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How do I locate and participate in
clinical trials?
Legal Help FAQs
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What Legal Options Are
Available To Individuals Injured By Asbestos?
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If I Don't Remember How I
was Exposed To Asbestos, What Can I Do?
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What Are The Stages Of
The Lawsuit And What Is My Involvement?
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How Do You Prove Which
Asbestos Companies Are Responsible For My Injury?
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Will You File My Case As
A Class Action Or As An Individual Lawsuit?
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What If My Loved One Had
Died Or Is Too Sick To Speak To An Attorney?
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Do I Have To Pay For The
Costs Of My Lawsuit?
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Are There Time Limits
For Filing A Legal Claim?
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If I Smoked Cigarettes,
Can I Still File A Claim Against The Asbestos Companies?
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Which Companies Are Sued
In Asbestos Cases?
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I Have Read About Many
Asbestos Companies Filing For Bankruptcy, How Do These Bankruptcies Affect My
Case?
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Which Asbestos Companies
Are Bankrupt Or Out Of Business?
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How Can I Find Out If I
Should File An Asbestos Lawsuit?
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Is There Going To Be A
Trial In My Lawsuit?
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How Long Will It Take
For My Lawsuit To Be Completed?
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How Do I Know That
Belluck & Fox Will Treat My Family With Dignity And Give Individual Attention
To My Case?
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Can I Contact You On
Behalf Of My Father, Husband Or Relative?
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