Does Rock Wool Insulation Contain Asbestos?
| Possibly. Rock wool is different from asbestos, but in the past, some rock wool was contaminated with asbestos fibers. When in doubt, have a professional lab test the insulation, and if you discover asbestos – have it removed properly by a certified asbestos abatement company. |
What is rock wool? What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural fiber that comes out of the ground. Rock Wool, a trademark for mineral wool, is an artificial substance that comes from a factory. Rock Wool insulation usually doesn’t contain asbestos, but its effects are similar to asbestos.
Furthermore, the chemical plants that produce mineral wool emit high levels of carbon monoxide, soot, large and small particulate matter, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, lead, and sulphuric acid. These chemicals are especially harmful to young people and old people.
“All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans.” 1
Mineral wool may contain possibly carcinogenic materials like ceramic and slag.
Additionally, mineral wool’s raw materials include ceramic and slag rock. Ceramic rock, when superheated, is possibly carcinogenic, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Mineral wool is primarily an insulator used in naval ship boiler rooms and other very hot environments.
Slag rock, ceramic rock, and asbestos often come from the same mine. Therefore, asbestos cross contamination is a danger. That’s especially true since many mining companies prize volume over quality and safety.
“Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure.”Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)2 |
Rock wool is different from asbestos, but both can involve health hazards.
So, when lawmakers phased out asbestos use in the 1990s, companies that switched to mineral wool might have thought they were doing people a favor. Instead, the product they sold was even more dangerous than the product it replaced. That’s saying a lot.
Good intentions don’t excuse negligence. In these legal claims, only two things really matter: the final effect and the company’s efforts to warn customers, if any, about these effects. So, if you or a loved one worked with rock wool insulation and contracted cancer or another serious illness, an asbestos exposure lawyer can obtain the compensation your family needs and deserves.
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If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos, even as a child, speak to a healthcare provider about tests and screening to help diagnose lung-scarring and screen for asbestos-related diseases.
About Mineral Wool
As mentioned, mineral wool insulation replaced asbestos insulation. Asbestos producers and users hid the health hazards of this substance for about a hundred years. In the 1960s, asbestos exposure lawyers began chipping away at the wall of denial these companies had erected. By the 1980s, the wall couldn’t stand anymore.
So, although it had plenty of warning, the construction industry was unprepared to replace asbestos. This attitude was part of the “asbestos or nothing” line that was a cornerstone of the aforementioned wall of denial.
“The overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.”Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)3 |
Rock wool is generally considered less dangerous than asbestos.
Initially, officials declared that mineral wool was almost as toxic as asbestos and therefore not a viable substance. The industry changed mineral wool’s composition and, in 2002, the IARC removed this substance from the “possibly carcinogenic” list. SHortly thereafter, Rock Wool and other types of mineral wool insulation were available at a Home Depot near you.
Asbestos has no taste or smell.
You may not know you’re breathing it.
IARC officials later learned these companies duped them. Mineral wool manufacturers removed a key ingredient so the substance would pass safety tests. Commercially-available mineral wool contains the same binding component that caused this substance to fail the test. People can be exposed to mineral wool fibers in the workplace by inhaling or touching them. These fibers are also small enough to seep into the body through the tear ducts.
Regulators limit exposure levels, but refuse to recall mineral wool. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal limit (permissible exposure limit) for mineral wool fiber exposure in the workplace as 15 mg/m3 total exposure and 5 mg/m3 respiratory exposure over an 8-hour workday.
“Some asbestos fibers may bypass…your body’s natural defenses…and lodge deep within your lungs. Those fibers can remain in place for a very long time and may never be removed.”Source: American Lung Association |
Mineral Wool Health Hazards
As mentioned above, Rock Wool insulation often contains asbestos. Even if it doesn’t, mineral wool production and handling is very dangerous.
“Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure.”Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)4 |
Health hazards associated with asbestos
Also as mentioned above, medical evidence of asbestos health hazards emerged around 1900. The primary health hazards include:
Asbestosis: Tiny asbestos fibers don’t just temporarily block breathing passageways. They create scar tissue that permanently blocks them. Scar tissue accumulation is so gradual that many asbestosis victims don’t have serious symptoms until a risky and radical total lung transplant is the best available treatment option.
Mesothelioma: Similarly, most mesothelioma cancer patients don’t know they are sick until their cancer is advanced and almost untreatable. Currently, the five-year mesothelioma survival rate is about 10 percent. The good news is that this survival rate is much higher than it was a few years ago, so there’s hope for future victims.
Pleural Thickening: Pleural disease occurs in the pleural space, which is the thin fluid-filled area in between the two pulmonary pleura in the human body. There are several disorders and complications that can occur within the pleural area, and the surrounding tissues in the lung, such as sarcoma, pneumonia, and pulmonary embolism.
Mineral wool fibers often cause lung cancer, if the victim inhaled them. These fibers could also cause blood and brain cancer. Mineral wool production chemicals often cause long-term breathing problems in older adults, cognitive delays in children, and other serious illnesses.
Do You Qualify For Compensation?
Quickly and easily find out how you were exposed by searching W.A.R.D., the largest asbestos database on the planet.
FREE SEARCH >Your Legal Options
Most Rock Wool exposure occurs at work or during military service. Generally, job injury victims may file workers’ compensation claims. This no-fault insurance replaces lost wages and pays reasonably necessary medical bills. The VA offers similar disability benefits. The amount of lost wage replacement (cash) benefits usually depends on the degree of disability. VA benefits also include medical care at VA facilities.
In each case, an asbestos exposure lawyer must prove the illness was work or service-related. Pre-existing conditions, like family history and lifestyle activities, often contribute to lung cancer and other conditions, but they don’t substantially cause them. Usually, a doctor examines medical records and provides testimony on this point.
Over $30 Billion is still available (No lawsuit. No fees unless you receive money. No risk.) Stake your claim.  |
Non-ambient (environmental) Rock Wool victims have legal options as well, usually a negligence action against the mineral wool user or producer. Users have a duty to provide reasonably safe work environments and producers have a duty to warn customers about possible side-effects. If a user or producer breaches a legal duty, and that breach substantially causes injury, the user or producer is liable for damages.
These damages normally include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages are usually available in these cases as well.
Sometimes these options overlap. For example, in most states, job injury victims may also file claims against negligent third parties. Some additional rules often apply in these situations.
Other legal options, like a victim compensation fund claim, might be available as well, depending on the facts of the case.
AsbestosClaims.Law
AsbestosClaims.Law, our mission to secure compensation for asbestos victims is more than professional; it’s personal.
Our founder, Justinian C. Lane, understands the devastating impacts of asbestos firsthand.
Both his grandparents and father, all asbestos workers, passed away from asbestos-induced cancers without realizing their eligibility for asbestos lawsuits or other forms of compensation.
We aim to prevent such tragic oversights by informing and guiding victims and their families through their legal options.
If you or your loved ones have suffered as a result of asbestos exposure, you could be eligible for considerable compensation. These funds could provide for medical treatments, asbestos removal services, and safeguard your health.
In addition, asbestos trusts offer compensation without the need for a lawsuit, providing a quicker, simpler path to justice.
Reach out to us at [email protected] or (206) 455-9190 for assistance with your claim. We offer compassionate listening, clear explanations, and we don’t charge a dime unless we win your case.
Beyond legal claims, we also advise on veterans’ disability, social security, and employment protection like workers’ compensation, FELA, and The Jones Act for maritime workers.
There’s no risk or cost to connect with our experienced team about your rights. Our commitment to your well-being means no fees unless you receive compensation.
| For further queries or concerns about asbestos, explore our website and YouTube page, featuring infographics, videos, and answers to common questions on asbestos-related topics. |
We’ve also introduced W.A.R.D., the Worldwide Asbestos Research Database. It’s the most comprehensive resource for asbestos-related information.
W.A.R.D. assists in pinpointing potential exposure scenarios, asbestos-containing products, and can indicate the types and potential amounts of compensation you may be entitled to receive.
Don’t delay — get in touch with us today!
1 IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Arsenic, metals, fibres, and dusts. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 2012 ;100(Pt C):11-465. PMID: 23189751.
2 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.
3 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.
4 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.