Products Liability
Tradesmen such as plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters frequently had to work with an asbestos cement pipe, which was used for water, sewer, and chemical piping applications. Working with asbestos cement pipes exposed these workers to the dangers of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.
The asbestos lawyers at Miller & Zois are currently seeking asbestos cases. This page looks at asbestos cement pipe and examines where it was used, what companies made it, and how dangerous it was for those who worked with it.
What Are Asbestos Cement Pipes?
Asbestos cement pipes are pipes made from a mixture of Portland cement and asbestos fibers. These pipes were manufactured and used extensively between the 1940s and the 1980s for water, sewer, and other types of pipes. They were valued for their strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion.
History of Asbestos Cement Pipe
Asbestos cement pipe is a pipe product in which asbestos is mixed with cement and sand and formed into pipes of various sizes. The asbestos helped to strengthen and reinforce the cement material. Asbestos cement pipe was first introduced in the U.S. in the early 1930s. It was considered a vast improvement over other materials available at the time because it was cheap, lightweight, and seemingly indestructible.
Over the next few decades, asbestos cement pipes in the U.S. exploded. In 1948, it was estimated that the amount of asbestos cement pipe manufactured could circle the globe four times. Asbestos cement pipe was particularly popular with utility companies for water supply systems because of its ability to operate under high pressure and its durability.
In the 1940s, asbestos cement pipe became the preferred material for use in municipal water systems and sewers, especially in newly built systems in the mid-west and western states. This trend continued for several decades. Today, approximately 18% of all water distribution pipes in the U.S. are asbestos cement. Pipe fittings such as couplings and rings were also made from asbestos cement, and these components often contained a higher percentage of asbestos.
The use of asbestos cement pipes stopped in the late 1970s because of health concerns about asbestos. Today, however, many of the asbestos cement pipes installed in water systems are still in use.
Health Risks of Asbestos Cement Pipe
Whenever asbestos (or material containing asbestos) is cut, sanded, or distributed, tiny asbestos dust particles are formed and released into the air. These dust particles can remain airborne for days. Asbestos dust particles are highly toxic, even in small quantities, if inhaled during breathing. Once inhaled, the asbestos fibers embed themselves in the tissue around the lungs (and other organs) and eventually form a rare and deadly cancer called mesothelioma.
The science on this continues to build. A recent medical journal Annals of Work Exposures and Health study highlights a significant health risk associated with certain building and industrial activities. The research points out that installing various cement products can emit airborne asbestos at levels that pose a substantial risk of occupational exposure. Prolonged exposure to these asbestos fibers can lead to the development of severe and potentially fatal diseases, including mesothelioma.
Specifically, and this is pretty extraordinary, this study suggests that cutting asbestos cement pipes significantly elevates asbestos exposure levels to more than 50 times above the short-term threshold set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States. Similarly, slicing through asbestos boards and corrugated roofing materials results in asbestos exposure that averages around 24 times the OSHA-approved limit.
Companies that Manufactured Asbestos Cement Pipes
Individuals, property owners, and contractors responsible for asbestos cement pipes may be held liable for the health risks associated with these pipes. This can include liability for exposing workers, occupants, and the public to asbestos fibers, as well as for any property damage that may result from removing or disturbing asbestos cement pipes.
Johns Manville was one of the first companies in the U.S. to manufacture and sell asbestos pipes. Johns Manville asbestos pipe was sold under the brand name Transite. Other U.S. companies that made asbestos cement pipe include:
| Capco | J-M Manufacturing Company |
| Certain Teed | Kubota Corp. |
| Flintkote | Keasbey & Mattison Company |
Some of these companies are still in business. Others have gone bankrupt, but asbestos liability trust funds are established to pay compensation claims.
Asbestos Cement Pipe and Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs when tumor cells form in the tissue surrounding organs inside the body. There are three different types of mesothelioma, depending on where it originates. Only 3,000 mesothelioma cases are diagnosed each year, making it very rare. Mesothelioma is also one of the most dangerous types of cancer, with a survival rate of only 12%.
Mesothelioma is also unique in the world of cancer because it is only caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. This means that if someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it means that they must have been exposed to asbestos at some point.
Anyone who worked directly with an asbestos cement pipe, installing or removing it, would likely have been exposed to airborne asbestos dust particles. Those who worked on job sites where asbestos cement pipe was being worked with may also have been indirectly exposed to dust particles in the air. Anyone who inhaled asbestos dust from cement pipes could potentially be at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Many asbestos lawsuits involving asbestos cement pipes were exposure cases during construction or demolition work; the asbestos fibers can become airborne, increasing the risk of inhalation and exposure to the dangerous fibers. This can put workers, occupants, and the public at risk, and those responsible for the pipes may be held liable for any health problems that result from exposure.
Asbestos Cement Pipe Lawsuits
Anyone who worked with asbestos cement pipe or worked around asbestos cement pipe during removal or installation and was subsequently diagnosed with mesothelioma (or another asbestos-related disease) may be eligible to bring an asbestos lawsuit. A diagnosis of mesothelioma is presumptive evidence of asbestos exposure. If the individual who was exposed to the asbestos cement pipe has already died from mesothelioma, their surviving family members can bring an asbestos wrongful death lawsuit. Victims of asbestos exposure can get financial compensation for their injuries.
Contact Us About Filing an Asbestos Lawsuit
If you (or a family member) have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and want to get compensation, contact our national asbestos lawyers today for a free consultation at 800-553-8082.