Asbestos at American Enka
For over 38
years, American Enka in Enka utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with American Enka show the use of products such as
pipe insulation and pipe coverings,
millboard, panelboard and misc. building materials,
raw asbestos fibers and misc.,
boiler and high-temp equipment insulation,
gaskets, packing and seals,
fireproofing materials and sprays,
flooring materials (tiles, sheet, adhesives),
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics,
roofing and siding shingles, coatings and sealants.
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
A. P. Green, Babcock & Wilcox, Combustion Engineering, Eagle-Picher, G-I Holdings, Owens Corning/Fibreboard, Pittsburgh Corning, Shook & Fletcher asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at American Enka in Enka, North Carolina:
A. P. Green
- Asbestos Cement
- Asbestos Fire
- Castable Mix 204
- Greencast
- Greencast 22 L GR
- Greencast 94 GR
- Greencast 97 GR
- Greencast 97 L GR
- Insblok 19
- Insulation Adhesive
- Kast O-Lite Refractory Cement
- Lo Abrade GR
- MC-30
- Mizzou Firebrick
- No. 36 Refractory
- Refractory Ce
- SK-7 Asbestos Cement
- Steelkon GR
- Steelplant Castable B
- Therm-O-Flake Coating (18% asbestos)
- Therm-O-Flake L.B. Block
Babcock & Wilcox
- FJ Furnace Boilers
- Gauges
- Insulating Firebrick
- Integral Furnace Boilers
- Marine Boilers
- Steam-Generating Boiler Products
- Stirling Boiler
- Type E Pulverizers
Combustion Engineering
- Block Stick
- Boilers
- Buck Stay Cement A- 1360
- Calcrete Insulating Cement
- Castablock Insulating Cement
- Expansion Joint Hat
- Fibrous Adhesive
- Gunisul
- Hilite Insulating Cement
- Kaiser Hard Top Insulating Cement
- Kaiser M Block Insulation
- Lite Wate 22
- Lite Wate 50
- MHD Finishing Cement
- Mix A
- Permiseal Weathercoating
- Pyroscat Fireproofing Cement
- SDK 50 Cement
- Stic-Tite Cement
- Stick-Tite Insulating Cement
- Super 711 Insulating Cement
- Super Finish Insulating Cement
- Super Finish Stick-Tite Insulating Cement
- Super Stick-Tite Insulating Cement
- Utility Thermal Finish Cement
- WeatherKote Protective Air-Check Cement
- WeatherKote Protective Coating
- WeatherKote Protective Duriseal
- WeatherKote Protective Thermal Coat
Eagle-Picher
- 106 Finishing Cement
- 111 High Temperature Cement
- 33 Insulating Cement
- 43 Cement
- 7M Asbestos Finishing Cement
- 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering and Insulating
- 99 Finishing Cement
- Armatemp Cement No. 10
- Armatemp Cement No. 166
- Castable Cement
- Coprtex Cement
- D.E. Block
- Drycote
- Eagle 20 Finishing Cement
- Eagle Drycote
- Firekote Cement
- Fireproofing Cement
- Hi-Stick Insulating Cement
- Hi-Temp Corrosion Resistant Paint
- HyLo Finishing Cement
- HyLoc Block and Pipe Covering
- Insulac
- Insulating Cement
- Insulseal
- Insulstic Adhesive Material
- Kings XX Finishing Cement
- Navy Grade Insulating Cement
- Navy Special Insulating Cement
- One-Cote Cement
- Spray Mastic
- Stalastic
- Super “66” Cement
- Superfill “A”
- Superfill “F”
- Supertemp Block
- Swetchek
- Vercel Block
- “1003” Cement
- “330” Insulating Cement
- “DE 85” Block
- “DE 95” Block
G-I Holdings
- Air Cell
- Aristo and Imperial insulation
- Asbestos Paper and Cloth
- Calsilite SS
- Calsilite-Hi
- Cement Roofing Shingles
- Cements, Adhesives, Plasters, and Coatings
- Floor Tiles
- Insulation
- Luran Regency, Airtred and Imperial
- Pipe Covering and Pipes
- Raw Asbestos Fiber
- Roofing, Shingles, Base Felt, and Siding
- Supercell
- T/NA100 and T/NA200
Owens Corning/Fibreboard
- 85% Magnesia Block, Pipe-covering and Thermal Insulation
- Aircell or Asbestos Paper Insulation
- Alumishield Roof Paint
- Asbestofelt (manufactured by a predecessor)
- Asphalt-Saturated Felts or Roll Roofing
- Caltemp (or Caltherm) Pipe Covering
- Caulking Compounds, Plastic Cements, Roof Coatings
- Colorok, Stormlap, Pabflex and Stonite Asbestos Cement Products
- FI Thermal Insulating Cement
- Flamecurb Gypsum Board
- Gaskets, Packings (manufactured by a predecessor)
- Gripdeck Floor Coating
- Gypsum Board and Lath
- Insulating Tape
- No. 127 Thermal Insulating Cement
- Pabco Pipe Covering
- Pebco Floron Floor Covering
- Plant Pipe Covering
- Prasco Pipe Covering
- Super Caltemp Pipe Covering
Pittsburgh Corning
- Braided Rod Packing
- Foamglas Building Insulation
- Gasoline Packing
- Insubestos Felt Insulation
- Insutape
- Semi-metallic Asbestos High Pressure Packing
- Unarco Insulating Cement #50
- Unarco Insulating Cement #75
- Unibestos Block Insulation
- Unibestos Insulation
- Unibestos Pipe Covering
Shook & Fletcher
- Fibrous glass cloth
- Coatings
- Banding seals
- Tapes
- Acoustical insulation
- Thermal insulation
- Ceramic fiber
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the American Enka in Enka, NC. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at American Enka
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at American Enka, employees working in the following
positions were exposed to a significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
- Abatement Worker
- Asbestos Worker
- Auto Mechanic
- Bagger
- Bag Opener
- Bale Press Operator
- Bale Roller
- Boiler Inspector
- Boilermaker
- Boiler Mechanic Helper
- Boiler Operator
- Boiler Repair
- Boiler Tender
- Boiler Worker
- Carder of Asbestos Yarn
- Carpenter
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Diesel Mechanic
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Taper
- Electrician
- Factory
- Fireproofing Sprayer
- Floor Tile & Linoleum Layer
- Furnace Installer
- Furnace Insulator
- Furnace Operator
- Furnace Repairman
- Gaskets
- Industrial Engineer
- Insulation Worker
- Insulator
- Lagger
- Lather
- Machinist
- Machinist Helper
- Maintenance Man
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Mill Worker
- Mixer
- Operating Engineer
- Pipe Coverer
- Pipefitter
- Pipe Insulator
- Plasterer
- Plumber
- Powerhouse Mechanic
- Powerhouse Operator
- Puncher of Asbestos Cement Pipes
- Puncher of Millboard
- Puncher of Roofing Materials
- Remodeler
- Repairman
- Roofer
- Roofing Materials
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Siding Installer
- Spray Gun Worker
- Stationary Engineer
- Steamfitter
- Tile Installer
- Tile Layer
- Tile Mechanic
- Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles Worker
- Weaver of Asbestos Fibers
Important Note:
This list is derived from trust fund data associated with asbestos exposure claims, focusing on products
manufactured or supplied by companies related to relevant trust funds. It identifies occupations known to
have used these types of products at American Enka in Enka, North Carolina. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
American Enka in Enka, North Carolina employees were directly exposed to asbestos
throughout their
employment, particularly between 1945 and 1982, when asbestos was heavily used.
Asbestos fibers,
microscopic and easily inhaled, are incredibly durable. Once inhaled, they can lodge in the lungs and
other organs. The body struggles to remove these fibers, leading to chronic inflammation and scarring.
For those who worked at American Enka, this process significantly increased the risk of severe and
often fatal asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and various
pleural conditions.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure extended beyond the American Enka in Enka. Workers often unknowingly
carried
asbestos dust home on their clothing, skin, hair, and tools. This resulted in secondary, or “take-home,”
exposure for family members residing in Enka and surrounding communities. Even low levels of asbestos
exposure can be harmful, and these diseases often have a long latency period, sometimes appearing
decades after the initial exposure, leaving families devastated years after a loved one worked
at American Enka.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at American Enka
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to American Enka in Enka, NC. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by American Enka at
its Enka facility between 1945 and 1982.
- Diagnosis: Medical documentation confirming a diagnosis of a qualifying asbestos-related
disease, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.
- Causation: Evidence demonstrating a connection between the diagnosed disease and the asbestos
exposure at American Enka in Enka.
Important Note: Each asbestos trust fund has specific criteria, claim forms, and procedures.
Average Settlement Ranges by Type of Asbestos-Related Disease
Average settlements for asbestos-related diseases linked to exposure at the American Enka site in Enka, NC, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $29,186 and
$1,859,795. The specific amount awarded depends on
factors such as the severity of the disease, the claimant’s medical history, and details of their employment
at American Enka, including job duties and duration of exposure.