History of Asbestos

The use of asbestos dates back thousands of years, but large-scale mining of asbestos didn’t begin until the end of the 19th century, when builders and manufacturers started using the mineral for insulation, fireproofing and other uses. Because of its durability, tensile strength, flexibility and resistance to heat and corrosion, asbestos was considered something of a miracle product among builders and manufacturers, and at the height of its use, asbestos could be found in everything from building insulation and pipe gaskets to coffee makers and hair dryers. At that time, the hazards of asbestos were not well known among the general public – though companies in the asbestos industry are accused of knowing about the risks of asbestos exposure and deliberately covering them up – and those who were exposed to asbestos at work or at home had no idea that the mineral could cause cancer and other serious illnesses.

In the United States, asbestos use was most abundant during the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, and while regulations limited the use of asbestos in the 1970’s, experts estimate that asbestos is still a hazard for more than one million American workers in the construction industry and those involved in the maintenance of buildings and equipment that contain asbestos. In light of the potential for asbestos to cause serious health problems in those exposed to the toxic mineral, asbestos has been banned in more than a dozen countries. Unfortunately, the United States has yet to ban asbestos.