Tremolite Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring metamorphic minerals: chrysotile, tremolite, actinolite, amosite, crocidolite, and anthophyllite. Many ancient cultures valued asbestos for its many properties, such as absorbency, resistance to heat and fire, durability, and strength. Little did they know that all types of asbestos, such as tremolite, were and still are toxic to humans.
What is Tremolite Asbestos?
Tremolite asbestos is an amphibole (silicate) mineral composed of iron and magnesium. It can be gray, green, lavender, yellow, or white, depending on the strength of the magnesium content. This mineral has long, straight, brittle fibers with sharp points.
Tremolite occurs naturally in areas of ultramafic and serpentinite rock. Such rocks have a low silica content but are high in iron and magnesium. Tremolite was mined in South Africa, South Korea, India, and the U.S. in Maryland and California. Mining in South Africa and the U.S. ceased in 2002.
While not directly used in commercial products, tremolite asbestos has often been found as a contaminant in vermiculite, talc, and chrysotile asbestos.
The Dangers of Tremolite Asbestos
W.R. Grace & Co. operated a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana from 1963 to 1990. At the time, the mine supplied almost 70 percent of vermiculite needs in the United States. Vermiculite is heated to create a lightweight valuable material used in insulation, packaging, and soil improvement. A 1984 study reported that most of the vermiculite from the Libby mines contained toxic tremolite asbestos.
Talc is a mineral that can sometimes naturally form together with tremolite asbestos. As a result, some consumer talcum powder and industrial talc products have contained toxic contaminated talc.
- Johnson & Johnson settled thousands of talc lawsuits for billions of dollars to individuals who developed ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases from using Johnson’s Baby Powder.
- National retailers Claire’s and Justice have also settled lawsuits with consumers claiming they contracted asbestos-related diseases from using cosmetics contaminated with asbestos minerals.
- Industrial talc is an ingredient often used in the manufacture of ceramics, coatings, paper, plastics, and rubber. Vanderbilt Minerals, Inc. stopped selling its “Nytal 100” industrial talc brand used in ceramics and closed its talc mining operations in 2008 because its talc contained almost 40 percent tremolite asbestos. The courts held them liable for damages for workers that developed mesothelioma.
Early documents, internal corporate communications, and witness testimonies revealed that many of these companies sold products even though they knew talc products were tainted with tremolite asbestos. These companies were negligent in warning workers and consumers of exposure to tremolite asbestos hazards.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
As with other forms of asbestos, scientists agree that chronic exposure to airborne tremolite asbestos increases the risk of contracting lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis. Lung cancer refers to cancer cells that develop inside the lungs. Lung cancer can be attributable to tobacco use, exposure to asbestos fibers, exposure to toxic chemicals, etc. Asbestosis a persistent lung condition caused by prolonged exposure to high concentrations of asbestos mineral fibers in the air. Inhaling asbestos mineral fibers or dust over a long period can result in lung tissue scarring.
Malignant Mesothelioma is aggressive cancer originating in the lining, or mesothelium, surrounding vital organs in the body. According to the American Cancer Society, mesothelioma cancer affects around 3,000 Americans each year. Asbestos minerals have also been linked to laryngeal, ovarian, stomach, and colorectal cancer.
Asbestos mineral fibers are easily ingested or inhaled. But they are not quickly expelled. These fibers embed themselves in the bodily tissue surrounding the lungs or the abdomen. The asbestos mineral fibers irritate and cause mutations in healthy cells surrounding tissue, resulting in the cells dividing uncontrollably and forming clumps of tumors that invade the lungs or abdomen.
Facts About Asbestos
- No amount of exposure to asbestos minerals is considered safe.
- Diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases is difficult because they have a long latency period of 20-50 years from exposure before symptoms manifest.
- All types of asbestos cause cancer and asbestos-related lung disease in humans.
Asbestos-related diseases do not respond well to medical treatment because by the time symptoms develop, the cancer is already in advanced stages. As a result, people with asbestos-related diseases, like mesothelioma, have high fatality rates. The 5-year survival rate for a patient with malignant mesothelioma is 12percent.
Treating mesothelioma can be extremely expensive, with medical and care bills quickly adding up to tens of thousands of dollars. During that time, mesothelioma victims cannot work, bringing hardship to the family.
People and families exposed to and affected by tremolite asbestos exposure can hold companies legally responsible for their negligence and recover medical expenses, lost income, and other related expenses brought on from an asbestos-related disease. It’s essential that you consult and work with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. Contact GPW Law today for a free consultation.
