Louisiana is best recognized for its rich cultural history and architectural heritage. It is one of the oldest settlements in the United States and has a long and fascinating history reflected in the design of its homes. Traveling through the state, one will find many beautiful estates with architecture heavily influenced by the French.

However, these older houses, while breathtaking, may also be a source of great harm. Why, exactly? Because they’re likely to contain asbestos.

The miracle mineral that became maligned

At the turn of the twentieth century, and particularly during the 1920s and 1930s, most of Louisiana’s historical buildings were constructed using the once-hailed “miracle mineral,” which was widely applied in the industry due to its fire-resistant and insulating properties. As a result, the state’s picturesque landscape may be riddled with homes containing roofing materials, insulation, flooring, revestimiento , and other asbestos-ladened materials.

The health dangers of asbestos products

Nearly every building constructed before the mid 1980s contained an asbestos product of some kind, usually many more. Eventually many of these products were banned – because of the significant health problems.

Asbestos fibers can cause a wide variety of health problems and diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are highly durable and become embedded. Asbestos-related diseases can take 20-50 years to appear.

But many of those asbestos products are still contained in the buildings. And if the material becomes exposed or damaged, the asbestos fibers continue to present an ongoing health risk.

Si es posible que haya estado expuesto al asbesto, hable con su proveedor de atención médica sobre pruebas y exámenes para ayudar a detectar la presencia de fibras de enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto.

Some specific products that are likely to contain asbestos más comunes incluyen:

Tejas del techo
Techos de tejas
Aislamiento de paredes y áticos (o aislamiento de “relleno suelto”)
Aislamiento de paredes y áticos (o aislamiento de “relleno suelto”)
Materiales aislantes dentro, sobre y alrededor de hornos, calderas y conductos
Asbestos on carpet or in carpet underlays
Baldosas de vinilo de 9” x 9”
Baldosas de vinilo de 12" x 12"
En cemento

And this is far from a comprehensive list. Asbestos can literally be lurking literally anywhere in these older structures, especially because as they age and materials break down, the chances of fibers traveling from one room to the next only increases.

What’s more, homes that were originally erected with the use of asbestos have likely been refurbished over the years, again with asbestos-containing materials. Because it wasn’t until the mid-1980s that there was a widespread ban placed on the substance, the mineral continued to be used heavily up until this time.

What to consider in examining historic Louisiana Houses for asbestos materials

There are a slew of potential risks buyers should take note of before purchasing a commercial building or a home in Louisiana. The primary concern is that the older the structure is, the more likely it is to have outdated features. This means that there is likely to be both interior and exterior upgrades to be had, both essential and nice-to-have.

Anytime historic structures are updated, there’s always a risk of asbestos exposure. Moreover, oftentimes, after projects begin, they quickly become more and more extensive as hidden problems are uncovered along the way. Even if the original plan is to avoid contact with nonfriable asbestos, sometimes contact becomes inevitable as layers are peeled back.

Damaged asbestos products can release harmful asbestos fibers into the air, even many decades later.

Asbestos fibers are incredibly durable. If a home is already compromised by damage, whether due to the many hurricanes Louisiana has experienced, age, or other factors, the risk of friable asbestos being present increases significantly. This is because damage often causes latent fibers to be exposed and kicked into the air. Homes with outdated electrical systems may also contain asbestos cloth wiring and contaminated electrical features, and demoing walls, ceilings, or flooring could all mean coming into contact with the toxin.

Renovation and demolition can release harmful asbestos fibers into the air.

It is also not uncommon for homeowners to move into a historic structure without plans to renovate only to become aware of the risk of asbestos exposure when future damage occurs. Anyone who comes into contact with these fibers can suffer serious health-related issues, especially if they don’t immediately realize that they’ve been exposed, and aren’t aware of the importance of seeking medical attention.

As a precautionary measure, anyone buying a home built before the ‘80s should have it inspected proactively by a qualified professional. A licensed asbestos auditor can perform testing to determine whether there’s a risk, and if asbestos is found, an abatement company can remove it properly so it’s no longer an issue.

Use an experienced, licensed professional for asbestos testing and abatement.

If deciding to handle asbestos-containing materials, it’s crucial for owners to take proper safety precautions. This includes wearing protective clothing, gloves, and a respirator to prevent inhalation of fibers. It’s also important to limit activities that may release asbestos fibers into the air whenever possible, such as sanding, drilling, or sawing.

It’s important to remember that contaminated debris can pose an ongoing danger for years to come even when asbestos-containing materials are initially removed. Unfortunately, microscopic fibers can spread quickly, being carried around unknowingly by those exposed as well as traveling through the air, water, or soil. Even after asbestos has been removed, it can be helpful to have a space retested to ensure all remnants are gone.

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To Recap…

Historic Louisiana Homes may contain asbestos products, so keep watch and when in doubt… get a test.

In summary, some safety tips to consider when buying a historic home in Louisiana include:

Have it inspected for asbestos by a qualified professional before buying or taking on any major renovations.
If the presence of asbestos is confirmed, have an abatement professional remediate it. Then, have the space retested to confirm all asbestos has been removed.
Never attempt to remediate asbestos without the help of a licensed contractor.
Always wear protective gear when it’s necessary to handle asbestos-containing materials.
Whenever possible, avoid activities that may release asbestos fibers into the air, such as sanding, drilling, sawing or crushing surfaces.
If exposure is suspected, contact a medical provider right away. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can begin. When it comes to asbestos, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and to be diligent about limiting contact. Just because asbestos fibers are tiny and, therefore, seemingly harmless certainly doesn’t mean they actually are. In fact, prolonged exposure has been linked to a variety of life-threatening illnesses including lung diseases, cancer, and asbestosis. Early detection and treatment can make a big difference in prognosis and recovery.

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There is over $30 Billion in compensation available for many people with asbestos diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma, often without a lawsuit.

In addition to the health risks posed by asbestos, in many cases, there could be legal options to consider. If exposed due to the fault of another party, compensation may be available. Many companies have already established bankruptcy trust funds to mitigate future litigation tied to exposure. Or, it may also be necessary to file a lawsuit to offset the costs of medical bills, pain and suffering, and other expenses related to an asbestos-related diagnosis. For more information on navigating the legal system and properly submitting an asbestos claim, contact the experienced attorneys at AsbestosClaims.law.

Journal_LSMS_asbestosis.pdf (la.gov)

AsbestosClaims.Law

Para Justinian C. Lane, obtener una indemnización por las víctimas del asbesto es algo personal.

Los abuelos de Justiniano y su padre trabajaron con asbesto en su juventud y murieron de cánceres relacionados con el asbesto en sus últimos años.

En el momento de cada una de sus muertes, nadie en la familia de Justiniano sabía que eran elegibles para presentar una demanda por asbesto y buscar una compensación de los fideicomisos de asbesto.

Debido a que nadie en la familia de Justiniano conocía sus opciones, nunca recibieron compensación alguna por la muerte de sus seres queridos.

Si cree que su lesión o la de su familiar estuvo relacionada con la exposición al asbesto, podría tener derecho a una compensación significativa.

Este es dinero que podría usar para cubrir los costos de los servicios de remoción de asbesto, pagar el tratamiento médico y proteger de manera preventiva su bienestar físico.

También hay fideicomisos de asbesto que ofrecen compensación mucho más rápida y fácilmente (sin presentar una demanda).

Si desea ayuda para presentar un reclamo, ponerse en contacto por correo electrónico a [email protected] o llámenos o envíenos un mensaje de texto al (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) o (206) 455-9190. Escucharemos su historia y le explicaremos sus opciones. Y nunca cobramos por nada a menos que reciba dinero en su bolsillo.

Además de demandas legales, discapacidad de veteranos, seguridad social y protección del empleo como compensación de trabajadores, FELA y La ley de Jones para los trabajadores marítimos, hay fideicomisos de asbesto que se han establecido para indemnizar a los perjudicados por el asbesto sin tener que presentar una demanda.

No hay riesgo ni costo para hablar con uno de nuestro personal sobre su litigio de asbesto. No hay cargos a menos que reciba dinero.

Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes adicionales relacionadas con el asbesto, visite nuestro sitio web y página de YouTube para ver videos, infografías y respuestas a sus preguntas sobre el asbesto, incluida la salud y la seguridad, prueba de asbesto, la eliminación del asbesto de su hogar y edificio, y información legal sobre la compensación por lesiones de asbesto.

Presentamos la base de datos de información sobre asbesto más grande del planeta.

W.A.R.D., que significa Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, ayuda a los clientes a reducir cuándo y dónde pueden haber estado expuestos, así como qué productos aún pueden contener asbesto.WARD también ayudará a indicar los tipos de compensación ya cuánto puede tener derecho una persona.