HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and HVAC workers are professionals who work on heating, air conditioning, cooling, and refrigeration systems. Because asbestos was used extensively to insulate heating appliances in the years before the 1980s, mechanics who worked then were at risk of exposure to asbestos and related illnesses. That risk continues today for
Clinical-stage gene therapy company Genprex, Inc. has announced an increased focus on developing a program specifically targeting malignant mesothelioma. The Austin-based company has announced the formation of a mesothelioma clinical advisory board comprised of four world-renowned researchers from major research institutions specializing in the treatment of the rare, asbestos-related disease.
Located in Prince George’s County, Virginia, Fort Lee was established during World War I and has been active through both World Wars and the Korean War. The majority of the permanent structures at Fort Lee were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, when asbestos was commonly used. Veterans represent the largest group of people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma;
Because asbestos was used to strengthen and fortify bricks, mortar, and other masonry products, bricklayers and stone masons had a high risk of exposure to asbestos it was commonly used in building materials. These craftsmen continue to face the risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases today when removing old masonry laid decades ago. How Was Asbestos
Durez Plastics was a New York-based chemical and plastics manufacturer known for making a plastic molding compound that it sold to other manufacturing facilities. The company’s physical plant was heavily contaminated with asbestos, and its manufacturing process incorporated raw asbestos. This put both employees and those who worked with the company’s asbestos-containing products at risk
Hysol Aerospace & Industrial Adhesive Company manufactured adhesives, epoxy resins, and electric insulating compounds for the aerospace industry, and later for the consumer market. The majority of the company’s products contained asbestos. Many people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have successfully filed personal injury lawsuits against them, seeking compensation for the harm
Textile work encompasses many different processes and operations, including fiber synthesis, weaving, manufacturing, dying, and finishing, as well as repairing and maintaining the equipment that makes those processes possible. Before the dangers of asbestos became known, textiles were heavily contaminated with the mineral, and so was much of the machinery on which the textiles were
St. Louis-based Christy Refractories Company is a manufacturer of heat-resistant products. Established over 100 years ago, the company originally used the high-quality clay found in the ground around South St. Louis to make firebricks and high-temperature bricks. These were used to line furnaces where steel, glass, and other materials are made and contained asbestos. Christy
Insulation workers install and replace specialized insulating materials that increase comfort, save energy, reduce noise, and prevent the spread of fire in both buildings and mechanical systems. The job involves reviewing blueprints or other specifications to gauge how much insulation is needed and what type is best for the application; measuring and cutting insulation to
Demolition work is essentially the opposite of construction. It involves tearing down old structures and buildings and clearing away the debris that’s left behind. The most obvious dangers of demolition work are a lack of structural integrity and building collapse, but legacy asbestos hidden within older structures’ components also poses a risk. Demolition workers face