As the victim of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, you’re sure to have questions. Let the attorneys of Thornton Law Firm answer them. We look forward to putting all of our energy and resources to work for you.
- Q: Who is at risk of mesothelioma?
- Q: How are people exposed to asbestos?
- Q: How much asbestos exposure is dangerous?
- Q: What kinds of products contain asbestos?
- Q: Which workers were exposed to asbestos?
- Q: Where were asbestos products used?
When you have questions, we have answers
Schedule a free initial consultation with a Thornton Law Firm attorney specializing in mesothelioma and asbestos. You can contact us here or call 1-888-632-0108. We look forward to answering any questions you may have after this visit to our website.
Who is at risk of mesothelioma?
Anyone who has inhaled asbestos can develop mesothelioma. Because asbestos is a known carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) there is no safe level of exposure.
How are people exposed to asbestos?
In the past workers were exposed to asbestos while working in mills and factories where asbestos products were made, in shipyards in the construction or repair of naval vessels, on the construction of new buildings and industrial sites, while installing boilers covered with asbestos, and while using asbestos-containing products in a variety of heating, ventilating and air conditioning jobs. Today, asbestos is most often encountered while repairing old asbestos-containing buildings and equipment. Unfortunately, family members of workers are also at high risk of contracting mesothelioma, through their exposure to asbestos brought home on the clothing or hair of the working family member.
How much asbestos exposure is dangerous?
All asbestos exposure is dangerous. Asbestos causes cancer, and you can’t safely be exposed to a carcinogen. Scientific and governmental organizations from OSHA to the World Health Organization agree that there is no safe level of exposure to any kind of asbestos. In addition, diseases like asbestosis and lung cancer are dose-related. The more asbestos exposure you have, the more likely you are to contract an asbestos-related disease.
What kinds of products contain asbestos?
Common asbestos-containing products and exposures include the following:
- Thermal Insulation: Pipe covering, cement, block, cloth
- Applied to: Piping, boilers, tanks, turbines, other machinery
- Often used by: Pipe coverers, insulators, shipyard, utility, maintenance, railroad workers
- Joint Compounds, Plasters, and Patching Compounds
- Applied to: Walls, ceilings
- Used by: Carpenters, drywallers, plasterers, painters, residential contractors, homeowners
- Gaskets and Packing: Cut, sheet, rope
- Applied to: Flanges, valves, pumps, boilers,
- Used by: Pipefitters, plumbers, boilermakers, millwrights, Navy firefighters, boiler tenders, machinist mates, shipyard, utility and railroad workers, stationary engineers.
- Asbestos-Cement Products: Asbestos-cement pipe, board, conduit, duct, others
- Used by: Pipefitters, utility workers, electricians, sheet metal workers, carpenters
- Asbestos-Cement Products: Asbestos-cement pipe, board, conduit, duct, others
- Used by: Pipefitters, utility workers, electricians, sheet metal workers, carpenters
- Electrical Products: Electrical panels, switchboards, circuit boards, insulated wire and cable, arc chutes, asbestos-cement conduit, explosion-proof conduit
- Used by: Electricians, utility workers, maintenance workers
- Molding Compounds and Resins:
- Used by: Plastics and chemical industry workers, injection molders, various manufacturing industry workers
- Fireproofing and Acoustical Sprays:
- Applications: structural steel, decking, decorative finishes, ceilings
- Used by: Sprayers, plasterers, painters
- Significant Indirect Exposures: Trades such as spray tenders, laborers, bricklayers, tile setters
- Friction Materials:
- Forms/types: Brake linings, clutch facings
- Applications: Auto and truck brake and clutch assemblies, cranes and other heavy equipment, manufacturing machinery, elevators, railroad machinery
- Used by: Auto and truck mechanics, railroad machinists operating engineers, oilers, elevator mechanics, machinists/machine maintenance, home auto repairers
- Vinyl, Asphalt and Ceramic Tile Products:
- Forms/types: Tile, thin-set cement (ceramic tile), adhesives, felt
- Used by: Floor layers, tile setters, bricklayers, residential contractors, custodians, homeowners, among others
- Roofing Products:
- Forms/types: Tar, felt, paper, board, siding, shingles
- Used by: Roofers, residential contractors, sheet metal workers, homeowners
- Roofing Products:
- Forms/types: Tar, felt, paper, board, siding, shingles
- Used by: Roofers, residential contractors, sheet metal workers, homeowners
- Asbestos Fiber:
- Forms/types: Raw asbestos fiber in various grades
- Used by: Manufacturing workers, longshore workers
- Machinery: Boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, steam traps, condensers, tanks, compressors, ovens, kilns, paper mill machinery, textile machinery, printing machinery
- Containing: Asbestos thermal insulation, gaskets and packing, asbestos board, felts, brakes, used in or on machinery
- Used by: Pipefitters, boilermakers, millwrights, Navy firefighters, boiler tenders, machinist mates, and other Navy personnel. Shipyard, utility, industrial maintenance, HVAC, heating repair, and foundry workers, plumbers, stationary engineers, workers in the paper, textile and other manufacturing industries
Which workers were exposed to asbestos?
Any worker who works in the construction or repair of any building, machine, or other worksite where asbestos fibers were released into the air has been exposed to asbestos. Further, many are exposed to asbestos through their work with or near other workers or tradesmen who worked directly with asbestos or asbestos products. We have also represented spouses and other family members with mesothelioma who were exposed to asbestos through the person and/or clothing of a family member.
Common trades exposed to asbestos include:
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Where were asbestos products used?
The lawyers at Thornton Law Firm represent mesothelioma victims for asbestos exposures that have occurred across the United States during a variety of industrial, commercial, and residential asbestos work. Because of our location in Boston, Massachusetts, however, we have come to know a great deal of information about the biggest work sites in Massachusetts and New England. Our work for thousands of mesothelioma and asbestos victims in this area has generated a large amount of information about these work sites and exactly what asbestos products were used at each site. We can put this information to work for you. We represent victims of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, who worked at many of the biggest asbestos work sites in the region, including:
Boston Edison Co.
- Boston Edison L Street Station (Boston, MA)
- Boston Edison Edgar Station (Weymouth, MA)
- Boston Edison Mystic Station (Everett, MA)
- Boston Edison Plymouth Station (Plymouth, MA)
Big manufacturing and construction sites in Massachusetts
- Badger Building (Cambridge, MA)
- Bucksport Paper Mill (Bucksport, ME)
- Charles River Park, Office Building (Boston, MA)
- Crane Paper (Dalton, MA)
- Crocker Burbank Paper Company (Fitchburg, MA)
- Diamond International (Old Town, ME)
- Esso Refinery (Everett, MA)
- Fitchburg Gas Electric Company (Fitchburg, MA)
- Fitchburg Paper (Fitchburg, MA)
- General Electric (Pittsfield, MA)
- General Motors (Framingham, MA)
- Georgia Pacific Paper Mill (Woodland, ME)
- Great Northern Paper Company (East Millinocket, ME)
- Hollingsworth & Vose (West Groton, MA)
- Hollingsworth & Vose (Rochdale, MA)
- Holyoke Gas and Electric (Holyoke, MA)
- Keystone Building (Boston, MA)
- Middlesex County Courthouse (Cambridge, MA)
- Monsanto (Springfield, MA)
- Monsanto Chemical (Everett, MA)
- Montaup Power Station (Somerset, MA)
- Mount Tom Powerhouse aka Holyoke Water Power (Holyoke, MA)
- New Brockton High School (Brockton, MA)
- New England Power Company – Brayton Point Station (Somerset, MA)
- New England Power Company – Salem Harbor Station (Salem, MA)
- Polaroid Building (Waltham, MA)
- Prudential Tower (Boston, MA)
- Scott Paper (Bucksport, ME)
- Scott Paper (Hinckley, ME)
- Scott Paper (Winslow, ME)
- Sachar International Center (Waltham, MA)
- State Street Project (Quincy, MA)
- Uniroyal, Inc./Fisk Tire Plant (Chicopee, MA)
- University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA)
- University of Massachusetts – Tillson Farms (Amherst, MA)
Northeastern U.S. shipyards
- Boston Naval Shipyard (Charlestown, MA)
- Fore River Shipyard (Quincy, MA)
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Kittery, ME)
- Bath Shipyard/Bath Iron Works (Bath, ME)
- Hingham Shipyard (Hingham, MA)
- Groton Yard (Groton, CT)
- Newport Naval Shipyard (Newport, RI)
