01. History of Asbestos Use
Union Carbide History of Asbestos Use
Union Carbide is a chemical manufacturer with a history of asbestos use. Its status as an asbestos company dates back to 1939, when it merged with Bakelite Corporation. Bakelite plastic contained asbestos and was used in home appliances and jewelry.
The company also manufactured asbestos products, like insulating resins and panelboards.
In 1963, Union Carbide purchased an asbestos mine near Coalinga, California. The company mined and processed chrysotile asbestos from this deposit and sold it as SG-210 Calidria.
Companies that purchased Calidria incorporated it into products like joint compound and texture sprays. Union Carbide sold the mine to another company in 1985.
Internal documents from Union Carbide indicate the company knew its product was dangerous. A 1964 report acknowledged asbestos workers were prone to asbestosis. A 1967 report correctly observed that even a small exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma.
In 2001, the Dow Chemical Company purchased Union Carbide. The company continues to operate as a Dow subsidiary. Dow has acknowledged Union Carbide’s history as an asbestos company.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Asbestos Products
Union Carbide Asbestos Products
Union Carbide made asbestos products. It also sold the mineral for use by other companies. The company processed asbestos from its California mine into SG-210 Calidria. Other companies used Calidria as a thickening agent in items like joint compound.
Some asbestos products manufactured by Union Carbide include:
- Bakelite plastics
- Drilling mud additives
- Panelboards
- Panels
- Sealants
- SG-210 Calidria asbestos
Asbestos products made by Kelly-Moore Paints, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Kaiser Gypsum Company Inc. and other companies contained Union Carbide asbestos. As such, Union Carbide’s asbestos products led to widespread exposure.
03. Occupational Exposure
Union Carbide and Occupational Exposure
Union Carbide’s activities put many people at risk of occupational asbestos exposure. The company used asbestos products in offices, labs and factories. Workers made its SG-210 Calidria at the company’s California factory. People involved in its California mining operations also faced exposure risks.
Union Carbide also put workers at other companies at risk of exposure. Companies like Kelly-Moore Paints used SG-210 Calidria asbestos in their products. People who made and used Kelly-Moore’s asbestos-containing products faced exposure risks.
People who live with asbestos workers may experience secondary exposure. This happens when workers accidentally bring asbestos fibers home on their clothes or in their hair. Secondary exposure has led to documented cases of mesothelioma.
04. Asbestos Litigation
Asbestos Litigation Against Union Carbide
Union Carbide has been the subject of numerous asbestos lawsuits. As of December 2023, the company has thousands of unresolved asbestos-related legal claims against it. Dow, its parent company, estimates its current and future liabilities to be almost $900 million.
A mesothelioma lawsuit may end in settlements or a jury verdict. Settlements are most often private agreements between victims and a company. Industry data suggests mesothelioma cases generally settle for between $1 million and $1.4 million. Verdicts are awarded by juries or judges in court.
Examples of verdicts against Union Carbide include:
- $24 million for a construction business owner: A California jury found Union Carbide liable for a business owner’s mesothelioma diagnosis. The patient was often present when his workers sanded joint compound at construction sites. Union Carbide supplied asbestos to the companies that manufactured these brands of joint compound.
- $6.6 million for a construction supervisor: A Florida jury found Union Carbide liable for a construction worker’s peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis. The worker claimed he experienced exposure from joint compound and ceiling sprays made with Union Carbide’s SG-210 Calidria asbestos.
- $5.2 million for the daughter of a construction worker: A Utah jury returned a verdict in favor of a woman who developed mesothelioma. As a teen, she had cleaned up dust left after her father sanded joint compound that contained Union Carbide-manufactured asbestos.
Patients and their families can contact dedicated mesothelioma law firms to learn about their legal options. Lawyers at these firms have experience handling asbestos litigation and know how to build strong cases.
