Asbestos in HVAC Duct Insulation
Concerned that asbestos HVAC duct insulation could cause asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma? Learn more below.
Where was asbestos used in HVAC systems?
HVAC systems are crucial for maintaining even temperatures and a fresh supply of air into homes and commercial buildings. HVAC systems consist of heating, air conditioning, and ventilation components that work together to raise or lower the inside temperature to a comfortable level. To do this, HVAC systems must be well-insulated.
Where there are heating and cooling needs, there is usually asbestos if the HVAC system was built before the late 1970s. For most of the twentieth century, asbestos was the most commonly used material for most insulation applications, including HVAC duct insulation. Asbestos was popular because it had the perfect trinity of properties: it was cheap, durable, and was completely non-conductive and flame resistant. HVAC systems, with their need for long term heavy duty insulation, were usually insulated with asbestos.
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Asbestos risks
If your HVAC system insulation is intact, there’s less of a concern about asbestos exposure. But if the lining is ripped, torn, or damaged (friable) there is a possibility that it could be releasing airborne asbestos. Considering that the HVAC system is truly the lungs of a building, this can be an enormous problem, potentially affecting many people.
Airborne asbestos is a health hazard and deadly carcinogen, capable of causing a wide range of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.
How asbestos causes mesothelioma
If inhaled or swallowed, microscopic asbestos fibers can become lodged in lungs and stomachs, first irritating then scarring the lining. In some cases, this scarring can develop into mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of cancer that affects the lungs, heart, or stomach. If you have ever worked with asbestos HVAC insulation, you may be at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Often mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases take decades to appear after the victim has been exposed to the asbestos, making it challenging to pinpoint where the mesothelioma originated.
Mesothelioma attorneys may be able to get you compensation
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease from workplace or home exposure to asbestos, contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer immediately. Mesothelioma attorneys have helped thousands of mesothelioma patients win compensation for lost wages and medical costs.
Asbestos companies knew of the risks of asbestos exposure for decades before the public knew. There are avenues to compensation for their criminal actions. Asbestos attorneys may be able to help.