The dangers of asbestos began surfacing in the late 1800’s and were well known by the late 1920’s. Even so, the manufacture and use of asbestos products rose sharply in the 1940’s and did not begin to drop off until the 1980’s. Asbestos-related illnesses, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, typically do not show symptoms until 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure, sometimes making it difficult to trace the source of illness to a specific manufacturer.
Asbestos was widely used in various products for its heat-resistant and insulating properties until its health risks became well-known. Many companies manufactured asbestos products at different times in history. It’s important to note that asbestos use has declined significantly due to its association with serious health issues, primarily mesothelioma and lung cancer. Some companies associated with asbestos product manufacturing include:
- Johns-Manville: Johns-Manville was one of the largest asbestos product manufacturers in the United States. They produced a wide range of asbestos-containing products, including insulation, roofing materials, and automotive products.
- Owens Corning: Owens Corning is known for producing asbestos-containing insulation products, which were widely used in residential and commercial construction.
- W.R. Grace & Co.: This company manufactured various asbestos-containing products, including construction materials, fireproofing products, and insulation.
- Georgia-Pacific: Georgia-Pacific was involved in the production of asbestos-containing construction materials and insulation.
- CertainTeed: CertainTeed produced asbestos-containing construction materials, including roofing shingles, cement pipes, and insulation.
- Union Carbide Corporation: This company was involved in the production of asbestos-containing products, including thermal insulation materials and plastics.
- GAF Corporation: GAF Corporation manufactured asbestos-containing roofing materials, shingles, and insulation.
- Armstrong World Industries: Armstrong produced asbestos-containing ceiling tiles and other building products.
- National Gypsum: National Gypsum produced asbestos-containing building materials, including drywall and joint compounds.
- Kaiser Aluminum: Kaiser Aluminum used asbestos in some of its industrial products, including insulation.
It’s important to note that many of these companies faced legal action and lawsuits related to asbestos exposure and its health consequences. In response to these issues, asbestos use has been significantly reduced, and regulations have been put in place to protect workers and the public from asbestos exposure. If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos or are seeking legal advice related to asbestos-related health issues, you should consult with an attorney who specializes in asbestos litigation.
Manufacturers Knew Their Products Were Killing People
As a mesothelioma victim, it is important that you understand that the companies which manufactured asbestos products, and the people who ran those companies, were aware of the dangers. Many well-known American companies have manufactured deadly asbestos products, knowingly and willingly putting their employees and consumers at risk.
The extent of that knowledge and the extent of the evidence to prove that knowledge varies from one company to the next. Prior lawsuits have already revealed some of this evidence. Asbestos manufacturers clearly put profits above human life.
Bankruptcy- asbestos trust funds
Many companies facing mesothelioma lawsuits and other personal injury claims related to asbestos exposure have filed for bankruptcy and set up asbestos trust funds. Even if the company responsible for your asbestos exposure has done so, you may still have a claim. You will need to file that claim with a trust which is set aside to pay for asbestos liability after bankruptcy.
Even though asbestos use is now heavily regulated, the number of asbestos-related claims is still on the rise. Asbestos use in the U.S. peaked in the 1970’s. Since the health problems caused by asbestos exposure normally take 20 to 50 years to surface, awareness of asbestos-related illness has risen, and medical science has advanced to the point that accurate diagnosis is more easily achieved, we can expect that number to continue rising for many years.
Asbestos Exposure Continues
Asbestos is still used in thousands of products that are on the market today. That includes household products that you buy and use in your home. Even if all production of asbestos products were halted right now, people would continue to be exposed in older buildings and the sheer volume of asbestos containing materials that are already in existence.
While the majority of the general public is aware of the danger of asbestos, most people are under the false impression that asbestos has been banned in the U.S. So far, asbestos manufacturers continue to win in the battle over legislation to ban and phase out the toxic substance. The ongoing effort to ban asbestos in the U.S. gets very little media attention and virtually no support from a citizenry which has been led to believe that the legislation is already in place.
Corporations who Manufactured products with Asbestos:
- A.B.B. Lummus Global Inc.
- AC & S
- A.P. Green Industries
- Abex Corporation
- Amatex Corporation
- Armstrong World Industries
- Babcock & Wilcox
- Bell Asbestos Mines
- Bestwall Gypsum
- Borg Warner Company
- Burnham Holdings
- C.E. Thurston & Sons
- Celotex
- CertainTeed Corporation
- Cleaver-Brooks
- Combustion Engineering
- Congoleum Corporation
- Crown Cork and Seal
- Daimler Chrysler
- Dana Corporation
- EaglePicher Industries Inc.
- Ehret Magnesia
- E.J. Bartells Company
- Federal-Mogul Corporation
- Flexitallic Gasket Company
- Ford Motor Company
- Foseco
- Foster Wheeler
- GAF Corporation
- Garlock
- General Electric
- General Motors
- Gold Bond
- H.K. Porter Inc.
- Harbison-Walker Refractories Co.
- Honeywell Heating
- Ingersoll Rand
- Imerys
- J.T. Thorpe Inc.
- John Crane
- Johns Manville
- Johnson & Johnson
- Kaiser Aluminum
- Kelly-Moore Paint Co.
- Kentile Floors
- Leslie Controls, Inc.
- Lincoln Electric
- M.H. Detrick Company
- Malleable Iron Range Company
- Mergenthaler
- Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing
- Mobil Oil Corporation
- National Gypsum
- Nicolet/Keasbey & Mattison
- North American Refractories
- Owens Corning Fiberglass
- Owens Illinois
- Pacor Incorporated
- Pittsburgh Corning
- Plibrico Company
- Porter Hayden Company
- Rapid-American/Philip Carey Manufacturing
- Raybestos Manhattan Raymark Industries
- Republic Powdered Metals
- Rock Wool Manufacturing Co.
- Rutland
- Shook & Fletcher
- Synkoloid Company
- The Flintkote Company
- Unarco
- Union Carbide
- W.R. Grace
- Western MacArthur
- Westinghouse Electric