Mesothelioma and Brick and Stone Masons



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History of Asbestos in the Building Industry

From the early 1900¡¯s until about the 1970¡¯s and 1980¡¯s, asbestos was widely used in the building industry, particularly in asbestos-cement and asbestos-cement products. Brick masons and stone masons were one of the occupations most likely to be exposed to these products, and were therefore at risk of contracting Mesothelioma through airborne asbestos fibers.
The brick mason is responsible for building and repairing walls, floors, partitions, chimneys, fireplaces, and other structures. In doing this, brick masons work with a mixture of brick, other masonry materials, and cement.



What Is Asbestos-Cement?

In their work, brick masons and stone masons often used to work with asbestos-cement. Asbestos was first added to cement in the early 1900¡¯s due to its many beneficial properties such as heat resistance, chemical resistance, and strength. It was also cost-effective and considered virtually indestructible.



How Brick Masons Worked with Asbestos-Cement

In order to hold the bricks together, brick masons use a mixture of cement, water, and sand. Until recently, this cement was often combined with asbestos. This asbestos-cement could then be used to hold the bricks together. It could also be used around walls, chimneys, and other areas. The masons would also come in contact with asbestos, through a number of pre-fabricated asbestos products such as asbestos sheeting and board.



Brick Mason's Exposure to Asbestos

Before the dry mix asbestos-cement was mixed with water, or after it had dried and the brick mason was scraping it down, some asbestos dust could be released into the atmosphere. Working on asbestos-containing products could also release asbestos dust into the air. When this asbestos dust was inhaled, it could enter the lungs of the brick mason and increase their chances of contracting Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.



Dangers of Exposure to Asbestos

One of the areas where asbestos was quite widely used was on building and construction sites. Brick masons, who were responsible for placing the bricks and then using cement to hold these in place or working with pre-fabricated asbestos-containing products, were often exposed to asbestos dust. This increased their risks of contracting Mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.