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Asbestos is added to moldable synthetic plastic to make it stronger and heat-resistant. Asbestos plastic products are used in automobiles, airplanes and electrical components, including well-known brands such as Bakelite and Nolanmi.
Moldable plastics, also called thermosets, enable manufacturers to mass-produce products of almost any shape quickly and inexpensively. The first plastic brand Bakelite used for this purpose had a phenolic resin base. Its inventors realized that this chemical mixture requires fillers to increase its strength and prevent it from shrinking excessively when cooled.
Many types of fillers meet these basic purposes, but asbestos fibers bring additional benefits, making the plastic resistant to moisture, heat, acid, and electricity. Asbestos is a natural choice among plastics used in high temperature and electrical applications. Because natural minerals are cheap and easy to process, manufacturers usually use asbestos plastics for many other types of products by default.
Although Bakelite contained asbestos from at least 1909 to 1974, most American manufacturers phased out asbestos in the mid-1980s. Asbestos plastic products are still being produced internationally. In 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency temporarily banned the import of an asbestos plastic called reinforced plastic, and at the same time reviewed the mineral's potential new uses. Asbestos gaskets that may be made of plastic are still legally manufactured and imported into the U.S.
Plastic is a poor conductor of electricity, making it an ideal base for circuit breakers, switchboards and switchboards. Fire prevention is a top priority for electricians, which makes asbestos-containing products an attractive option.
Plastic is also a poor conductor of heat, which is why people can safely touch the plastic handle of the frying pan even if the metal part is very hot. Asbestos plastics are used in the production of consumer goods, including tools, cooking utensils and appliances. For example, asbestos plastic is used for furnace linings and cookware handles.
Asbestos and plastic polymers are added to certain textiles, including ropes, yarns and fabrics, to reinforce these materials. For example, North American Asbestos Company produces asbestos-containing plastic textiles under the Nolan Mitte brand.
Like consumer goods manufacturers, automakers use asbestos plastics for all types of auto parts, including arc extinguishers, steering wheels, and brake pads.
The aerospace industry uses the light weight and insulating properties of asbestos plastics for high-tech products such as rocket nose cones, aircraft landing fuel tanks and missile shells.
Asbestos plastic products also take the form of vinyl wallpaper, tiles and floors, and plastic cement. Asbestos plastic cement is applied to the surface of masonry, brick and felt.
Manufacturers of asbestos plastics include:
Until the 1980s, chemical plant workers preparing asbestos plastic molding compounds were often surrounded by high concentrations of toxic asbestos dust, especially when their work involved pouring raw asbestos fibers and cutting and transporting asbestos-containing materials. Workers who frequently inhale asbestos dust are at the highest risk of asbestos-related diseases in later life.
It is known that contact with asbestos in plastic products can cause:
Molded asbestos plastic products are generally less dangerous than other types of asbestos-containing materials because they are not fragile, which means they are less likely to be crushed by hand. Plastics hold the asbestos fibers in place, but these products release asbestos when damaged. Electricians, construction workers, auto mechanics, and homeowners may come into contact with asbestos when old electrical components are drilled, sawed, or damaged. This type of damage exposes the asbestos fibers in the plastic, allowing it to spread in the air.
If you use asbestos plastic and suffer from asbestos-related diseases, be sure to seek medical care from a doctor who specifically diagnosed you. Working with experts may give you access to the latest treatment methods and clinical trials, thereby improving survival rates.
Many asbestos plastic manufacturers know that their products are dangerous and choose to use asbestos regardless of health effects. Decades of lawsuits disclosed internal documents of some of these companies, including WR Grace, proving that they knew that asbestos can cause lung disease and cancer.
Workers suffering from asbestos-related diseases after using asbestos plastic have filed personal injury lawsuits against the manufacturers of these products, while those who have lost loved ones have filed negligent death lawsuits.
A mesothelioma lawyer can review your case to advise you whether you are eligible for litigation and multiple asbestos trust fund claims. Other forms of compensation include VA claims, social security disability and treatment, and travel grants.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration classifies the elimination of asbestos plastic products as a Class II operation, which requires workers to receive training and certification in asbestos elimination. It also requires the use of negative pressure enclosures to prevent contamination, as well as other safety measures, including personal protective equipment to prevent contact with asbestos.
Homeowners and DIYers may face huge fines for reducing asbestos plastic products. Make sure to hire a licensed asbestos abatement company for this type of work.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's legislation and the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Clean Air Act finally began to restrict the use of asbestos in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tried to promulgate all asbestos ban products, but was appealed by the Fifth Circuit in 1991. The court overturned.
Fearing the legal consequences, many companies began to phase out asbestos in the 1980s. Plastic manufacturers use a variety of alternative fillers, including calcium carbonate, talc, clay, mica, glass, and silica. Unfortunately, there is a risk of asbestos contamination when using talc as a filler. These minerals are formed next to each other. Due to the classification and processing methods of industrial talc, the industrial use of talc faces the highest risk of pollution.
Many companies use asbestos to reinforce plastic products, including PVC (polyvinyl chloride polymer), phenolic resin, polypropylene, and nylon. The production of these plastics usually requires factory workers to pour unprocessed asbestos fibers into mixing tanks and molds, which creates the risk of occupational exposure to asbestos.
In 1907, chemist Dr. Leo Baekeland created the first synthetic thermosetting plastic, which he named Bakelite. When combined with wood and asbestos fibers used as fillers, Bakelite proved to be an all-round durable material that manufacturers can mold into any necessary shape. Baekeland called it "a thousand-use material", and the rapid growth of the plastics industry throughout the 20th century supported his claim.
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