For decades now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cautioned the public that there may be asbestos in their older holiday decorations. As early as the 1930s, asbestos was used to create faux snow, often used to flock Christmas trees or simply as an addition to holiday scenes. The 1930s was when the government realized that asbestos may be harmful to those that are exposed to it. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that asbestos was outlawed and wasn’t used in Christmas tree flocking anymore.
The concern that the EPA has is that there may still be Americans that are using their old, asbestos-ridden, holiday decorations and, therefore, exposing themselves to its dangers.
The other concern is that many Americans store their Christmas trees and holiday decorations in an attic where there may still be Zonolite insulation which contains asbestos fibers. During the moving of holiday decorations and boxes, the insulation can be disturbed and release the fibers into the air.
Asbestos is a mineral that has been used for over a century in a variety of commercial applications from insulation to heating, shipping to roofing, among others. It was found to be harmful to humans as early as 1930, but many employers ignored these warnings. These employers allowed their employees to be exposed to and unprotected from asbestos, which can lead to an incurable form of cancer, mesothelioma.
As a warning from our Baltimore asbestos attorneys at The Law Office of Brown | Kiely, LLP, we wish to remind you to clear out your old holiday decorations and to be safe when moving anything within an older home’s attic. The EPA recommends storing boxes away from insulation and to avoid disturbing it. They also recommend having a licensed insulation company examine your insulation to determine if it is safe or should/could be removed.
If you or a family member is suffering from asbestosis or mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure, please contact our attorneys. We can help get you the compensation you deserve if you are suffering because of another’s negligence. Contact us today or call us at (410) 625-9330.
