Asbestos Lagging Cause of Asbestos Cancer
Asbestos lagging is a type of thermal insulation used to retain heat. It's a very effective and versatile insulator, but nowadays we know more about the dangers of asbestos cancer, and the asbestos lagging in many buildings is a significant problem. Asbestos lagging is found as an insulator in building components such as:
- boilers
- heating systems
- pipes
- certain machinery parts
Asbestos lagging comes in several forms including cloth, tape, spray and adhesive. No matter what the form, asbestos lagging is prone to deterioration over time.
Aging Asbestos Lagging
Hundreds of thousands of buildings in the U.S. still have asbestos lagging that was installed before its use was curtailed in the 1980s. By now, this asbestos lagging may be in dangerously poor condition, crumbling or breaking. In other cases, the asbestos lagging is being removed as part of a building's renovation. When asbestos lagging is friable (crumbly) or manipulated (as it is being removed), it's a danger to people in the vicinity.
The asbestos content of the lagging was very high - 50% to 100%. The asbestos fibers of which asbestos is composed present a grave danger to the people who install, remove, or otherwise come into contact with the asbestos lagging, because these fibers are too small to be seen and can easily be inhaled.
Asbestos Lagging Can Cause Disease
The fibers in asbestos lagging can become stuck in the lungs or other internal organs and disrupt the body's normal functioning, causing diseases such as:
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancers
- Other organ cancer
- Mesothelioma cancer
These diseases are common among professionals such as pipefitters, plumbers, boilermakers, and laggers (whose duty it was to add the asbestos insulation). The diseases are very serious, often life-threatening. Asbestos lagging has contributed to the epidemic of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos cancer diseases around the world.
Find Out More about Asbestos Lagging
If you worked as a plumber, lagger, or other professional who frequently came into contact with asbestos and you suspect that you have an asbestos cancer disease, you can contact us to learn more about your medical options.
Asbestos Lagging (english) / Revestimiento de Asbesto (spanish)



