Possibly. Asbestos can cause major health problems, including cancers like mesothelioma, so many of its uses have been banned. But for many years, asbestos was used in certain styrofoam products.

Most styrofoam no longer contains asbestos, but because inhaling asbestos can be so harmful to your health, when in doubt, avoid contact with older styrofoam products. And if the product is in your home or other building, strongly consider getting an asbestos audit from a licensed professional.

The dangers of asbestos in styrofoam

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is easy to extract, affordable, and has many previously sought-after qualities, including resistance to heat and electricity, durability, and adhesiveness. 

For these reasons, it became known as a “miracle mineral” and was widely used during much of the 20th century. El asbesto was added to all kinds of products until the health risks associated with use became well-known in the 1970s and ‘80s, and even after the risks became public knowledge, some companies continued to use it anyway.

Because of its desirable properties, asbestos was added to some Styrofoam products. It strengthened the lightweight Styrofoam and added a heat resistant quality.

Historical Uses of Asbestos in Styrofoam

Asbestos was added to Espuma de poliestireno (or expanded polystyrene foam) from at least the 1950s to the 1970s. It appeared in some composite products that included Styrofoam, including structural insulated panels with Styrofoam cores covered by a skin composed of fiber cement or asbestos cement board. Some companies that manufactured asbestos-containing aislamiento include W.R. Grace, Johns Manville, Armstrong Contracting and Supply, National Gypsum, EaglePicher, Pittsburgh Corning, Celotex and Nicolet.

Most buildings constructed before the mid 1980s contained some asbestos product or materials.

Ceiling titles created from uniform extruded polystyrene foam were likely to contain asbesto as well. From the 1950s to the 1980s, one of the most commonly added ingredients to ceilings was asbesto. Not only was it used in the tiles themselves, but it was also an ingredient in the adhesive holding them in place. It is estimated that 5-10% of ceilings still contain asbestos today.

Because of the historical prevalence of asbesto in Styrofoam and in other products in older homes and commercial and industrial buildings, it is important to have any areas of concern tested prior to undergoing renovations. An asbestos abatement company can perform a test and remove any asbestos properly so there is no exposure.

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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 asbesto y daños relacionados con el asbesto.

The Dow Chemical Cover-up

To read through Dow Chemical’s asbestos disclaimer on its site, the company contends it has never manufactured any products containing asbesto. However, if one digs a bit deeper, this statement seems to be false. Celotex Thermax polyisocyanurate foam board aislamiento, for example, which was purchased by Dow Chemical in 2001, included asbesto for many years. 

The asbestos industry cannot always be trusted.

There is also evidence that the thickness of the Styrofoam applied to some of Dow’s non-Celotex products was achieved by using asbesto. Second-hand sites such as eBay contain listings of older Dow Styrofoam products that are said to have asbestos in them.

“La evidencia general sugiere que no existe un nivel seguro de exposición al asbesto”.

Fuente: Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH)1

Si realiza una búsqueda en línea, no tardará mucho en descubrir que no ha sido raro que las grandes corporaciones encubran su uso del asbesto. Muchas empresas se han enfrentado a demandas en los últimos años, incluida WR Grace, por supuestamente ignorar los peligros del uso de asbesto mucho después de que la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA) y otras entidades gubernamentales hicieran evidentes estos peligros.

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Alternatives to Asbestos

Los productos fabricados después de finales de la década de 1980 no deben contener asbesto y, afortunadamente, hoy en día existen muchos aislamientos alternativos en el mercado, aunque algunos pueden ser más seguros de usar que otros.

For instance, three different types of asbestos-free aislamiento available include fiberglass, rock wool, and cellulose (all which can resemble asbestos in their loose forms, so it’s important to determine which it is). Aislamiento typically comes in three forms: loose fill, batts, or blankets.

Materials used to substitute for asbestos-containing materials (ACM):

Fibra de vidrio: 

Both fibra de vidrio and asbestos are fibrous materials, and both are also heat resistant. Surprisingly, while fiberglass is today a common alternative to asbesto today, both are also known to be carcinogens. For this reason, some have referred to fiberglass as the “man-made asbestos.” Its cancer-causing properties have been well-documented in studies. However, the material is not yet officially classified as a human carcinogen and continues to be widely used in a variety of products. It’s important to note that microscopic fiberglass has a tendency to cut through skin, so it’s important to wear protective gear when handling it to avoid irritation.

Lana mineral de roca:

La lana de roca es una alternativa a base de minerales, y la opción de relleno suelto se confunde comúnmente con el asbesto porque también es fibroso y tiene una textura similar al algodón. Puede ser gris, blanco o tener un tinte marrón, y se usa tanto en aislamiento suelto como en guatas tejidas. La lana se crea a partir de roca basáltica y dolomita.

Celulosa: 

El aislamiento de celulosa es gris y suave. Está hecho principalmente de papel reciclado, por lo que no es un aislamiento a base de minerales y viene en una versión de relleno suelto que normalmente se sopla en el ático o en guatas tejidas. También puede parecer asbesto cuando se sopla y puede ser difícil descifrar la diferencia. Sin embargo, tras una inspección minuciosa de la celulosa, es posible que se noten los trozos de papel.

“Por lo general, quienes desarrollan enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto no muestran signos de enfermedad durante mucho tiempo después de la exposición”.

Fuente: Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH)2

When in Doubt…

Homeowners who are unsure of whether there is asbestos or an alternative present in tiles, insulation or in any other area of the home, should consider the age of the structure first. And, if still unsure, it is best to get the area tested. A professional remediation company can perform a comprehensive asbestos audit, test any areas of concern, and if asbestos is found to be present, the company can properly remove it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

AsbestosClaims.Law

AsbestosClaims.law es su recurso integral para todo lo relacionado con el asbesto. Esperamos que esta información sea útil.

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.

Y si cree que estuvo expuesto al asbesto, o le han diagnosticado una enfermedad relacionada con el asbesto, podría tener derecho a compensación significativa: dinero que podría usar para cubrir los costos de los servicios de eliminación de asbesto, pagar el tratamiento médico y proteger de forma preventiva su bienestar físico. 

Todo 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.

Ribak J, Lilis R, Suzuki Y, Penner L, Selikoff IJ. Malignant mesothelioma in a cohort of asbestos insulation workers: clinical presentation, diagnosis, and causes of death. Br J Ind Med. 1988 Mar;45(3):182-7. doi: 10.1136/oem.45.3.182. PMID: 3348994; PMCID: PMC1007965.
Thomas W. Hesterberg, Robert Anderson, David M. Bernstein, William B. Bunn, Gerald A. Chase, Angela Libby Jankousky, Gary M. Marsh, Roger O. McClellan, Product stewardship and science: Safe manufacture and use of fiberglass, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, Volume 62, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 257-277, ISSN 0273-2300.

1 Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH) Hoja informativa sobre asbesto.
2 Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH), Hoja informativa sobre asbesto.