Asbestos Products
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral found in an estimated 3,000 products in the United States, mostly manufactured between the 1930s and 1980. Although the companies that manufactured and sold asbestos products knew it was harmful to human health, they concealed the truth about asbestos to protect their profits for decades. As a result, millions of people have developed mesothelioma and other deadly diseases.
Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: April 24, 2025
- From the early 1900s until the 1980s, asbestos was used in over 3,000 products in the United States because of its unique properties, including fire resistance, insulating abilities, non-conductivity, chemical resistance, durability, and flexibility.
- Asbestos products were manufactured for industrial settings, homes, consumer goods, and automobiles.
- Asbestos exposure may lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other serious diseases decades after exposure.
- You may be entitled to compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit, wrongful death lawsuit, asbestos trust fund claim, or VA claim if you or your loved one is diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness.
- Our experienced mesothelioma lawyers can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
What Was Asbestos Used For?
Industrial leaders considered asbestos a miracle mineral because of its unique qualities. It was flexible, lightweight, non-corrosive, fire-resistant, heat-resistant, chemically inert, non-conductive, and durable.
Asbestos occurs as microscopic fibers in bundles. Airborne asbestos on job sites exposes all workers in the vicinity who inhale and ingest them. While this creates no immediate symptoms, the body cannot break down or expel the fibers. Instead, they become lodged in tissue of the membranes surrounding bodily organs and cause damage and inflammation over time without detection. By the time most people experience symptoms, they are already in an advanced stage of a deadly disease, with limited treatment options and no cure.
By the late 1970s, thousands of workers had developed severe and fatal health effects from asbestos exposure. The asbestos industry could no longer hide the truth about asbestos, and the EPA began imposing restrictions on its use. However, the damage was already done. Asbestos was a key component in almost every building system and industrial application. It was found in homes, industrial settings, and even consumer goods. Older buildings and products containing asbestos continue to expose people to the hazardous mineral today.
Commercial & Industrial Asbestos Products
Asbestos was useful in commercial and industrial settings to insulate against heat, prevent fire, reinforce compounds, and increase heat and acid resistance in gaskets, sealants, and packings. It was commonly found in the following products:
- Boiler insulation
- Magnesia block insulation
- Adhesives and mastics
- Cement flashing
- Furnace cement
- Tank insulation
- Asbestos clothing for firefighters
- Protective gloves and aprons for metal workers
- Lab equipment
- Diaphragms used in chlorine production
- Sealants
- Cement sheets
- Laboratory hoods
- Cooling towers
- Asbestos wire insulation
- Industrial talc
- Gaskets and packings
- Asphalt
- Steam pipes
Asbestos in the Home
Builders used asbestos in the construction of residential structures from the 1930s until the late 1970s, when the EPA began restricting it. However, many builders kept using the material until their supplies were gone. Zonolite vermiculite insulation was used until 1990 and was contaminated with asbestos. If you have ever lived in a home built before 1990, you may have been exposed to asbestos through the following products:
- Asbestos insulation
- Zonolite vermiculite attic insulation
- Vinyl asbestos floor tiles
- Asbestos linoleum
- Asbestos pipe insulation
- Asbestos duct wrap
- Roofing shingles and underlayment
- Siding
- Textured paint
- Spackle and other patching compounds
- Asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets around wood-burning stoves
- Door gaskets on oil and coal furnaces
- Hot water pipes
- Soundproof or fire-resistant curtains
- Popcorn ceilings
- Orange peel and trowel-painted ceilings
- Ceiling tiles and mastic
- Chimney flue linings
- Cement water pipes
- Ductwork
- Wire insulation
- Electrical breakers
- Fire doors
- Black Jack roofing tar
- Nicolite roofing paper
- Silver roofing paint
- Decorative plaster
- Window glazing
- Wallboards
Asbestos in Consumer Goods
Asbestos was also incorporated into consumer products, including electrical products, appliances, fabrics, and cosmetics. Asbestos in cosmetics almost always occurs in products that use talc. Talc is commonly tainted with asbestos. The only reliable way to avoid encountering asbestos in makeup is to avoid talc-containing products. If you purchase antiques, older appliances, or vintage decorative products, beware of the potential for asbestos, which has been used in the following consumer goods:
- Decorative ashes and fake embers for fireplaces
- Fake snow
- Hairdryers
- Clothing irons and ironing boards
- Pot holders
- Electric blankets
- Stoves
- Ovens
- Teapots
- Toasters
- Heaters manufactured before 1974
- Makeup
- Talcum powder
- Vermiculite for gardening
- Asbestos cigarettes
- Playskool crayons
- Children’s fingerprinting sets Clay
- Children’s makeup
Asbestos in Automotive Parts
Asbestos was widely used in the automotive industry in parts exposed to friction or heat, including the following:
- Clutches
- Brakes
- Brake linings
- Spark plugs
- Mufflers
- Air conditioning parts
- Hood liners
- Engine gaskets
- Valves
Some aftermarket parts like brakes, clutches, and brake linings may still contain asbestos, especially if they are imported from China. If you work on classic cars on the job or as a do-it-yourselfer, be aware of the potential for asbestos exposure.
Health Risks Associated with Asbestos Products
Asbestos exposure can cause painful, deadly diseases 10 to 60 years after you were first exposed. Common diseases from asbestos exposure include mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that develops in the lining around the organs. There is no known cure, and its only confirmed cause is asbestos exposure. The most common type of the disease is pleural mesothelioma, which impacts the linings surrounding the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma is cancer of the lining surrounding the stomach and is the second most common type. Testicular mesothelioma is the third most common type.
Most people who get mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses are workers with long-term heavy occupational asbestos exposure. However, no level of exposure is safe, and anyone exposed to asbestos can develop mesothelioma. Many of our clients have been family members of exposed workers who experienced secondary asbestos exposure.
Legal Options for Those Harmed by Asbestos Products
You may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure if you have developed an asbestos-related illness.
A mesothelioma lawsuit can provide economic and non-economic damages from asbestos product manufacturers and suppliers. Economic damages cover the financial costs of your diagnosis, while non-economic damages cover emotional losses. Your damages may include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of society
- Emotional distress
If your loved one has died from an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to damages through a wrongful death lawsuit, such as funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of parental guidance.
If the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure went bankrupt, you cannot sue them, but you may be eligible for compensation through the asbestos trust funds.
If you were exposed to asbestos in the military, we can help you sue the companies that supplied asbestos to the military and file a claim for VA benefits. You might be eligible for VA medical care, VA Disability compensation, and a VA pension.
We have a proven track record of the highest settlements and verdicts in Washington and Oregon. We can determine which types of compensation you qualify for and help you file each claim.
Is Asbestos Banned in the United States?
On March 18, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule prohibiting ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only known form currently used in or imported to the United States. Although, this does not constitute a full ban on asbestos in the United States.
Before this, a long list of countries had banned asbestos, but the United States had not. Despite legal efforts in the early 1990s, American companies still used asbestos in small amounts. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies had previously implemented several laws and regulations on asbestos use, but these didn’t guarantee full protection from exposure.
Although companies may have been permitted to use asbestos in certain items, you may be able to seek damages from manufacturers if you’ve experienced health effects because of this exposure. An asbestos lawyer in Oregon or Washington can offer guidance on the strength of your case.
Is Asbestos Still Used Today?
Until the EPA ban, some companies continued to use asbestos in their products, but the use is far less common than in the past. After years of research and repeated confirmation that asbestos poses a serious threat to human health, most industries have shifted to alternate materials. However, that doesn’t mean a property is asbestos-free.
Because asbestos was used for so many years, many older homes, commercial properties, and schools still have materials and products made with asbestos. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, asbestos is especially widespread in buildings constructed between 1930 and 1950.
If You've Been Harmed By Exposure to Asbestos Products, We Can Help
Our Washington and Oregon asbestos exposure attorneys are dedicated to holding corporations responsible for putting profits over people. We have been fighting for asbestos exposure victims and their families since 1995 and have recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements. We have received numerous testimonials from satisfied clients. We treat each client with mutual trust, respect, and compassion while providing zealous advocacy in the courtroom.
We serve all of Washington and Oregon, and our attorneys will come to you regardless of where in the Pacific Northwest you are located. Speak to a Washington asbestos exposure lawyer today by calling (206) 957-9510 or an Oregon asbestos exposure attorney by calling (503) 447-6230. You can also complete our contact form to request a prompt call from one of our attorneys and learn about your asbestos exposure compensation options.
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
