Cement

Cement is one of many construction-based goods that requires the ability to withstand extremely high temperatures and last for decades. Throughout the mid 1900s, it was very common for asbestos to be added into cement mixtures. Typical cement products containing asbestos include cement pipes, cement wallboard, cement siding, refractory cement, finishing cement, and furnace cement.

In the 1970s, asbestos became a banned product when its dangerous health affects were discovered. Inhalation of the toxic mineral, which can occur during cement mixing or anytime it is broken or cracked, can result in various fatal diseases, the worst of which being mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is an incurable form of cancer that develops within the mesothelium of the lungs, abdomen, and chest. One of the main reasons for its high mortality rate is that symptoms do not begin to appear until 30 to 40 years after asbestos exposure has occurred. By then, the cancer is one of the later stages, which makes it difficult to treat. Mesothelioma symptoms are also not unique and can sometimes be misdiagnosed or looked over. Symptoms to look out for if you think you have been exposed to asbestos are:

• Persistent dry cough
• Pain in the abdomen or chest
• Difficulty in swallowing or breathing
• Unexplained weight loss

If you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos as a result of handling or being involved with Cement, and if you think such exposure may have caused you or your loved one to become ill with mesothelioma or any other form of asbestos related disease, please contact the lawyers at Clapper, Patti Schweizer & Mason for more information.