Asbestos History And Its Associated Health Risks
This article presents a brief outline of -asbestos history and its associated health risks from its first application as insulation to the present time when it is shunned by most people. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been utilized as insulating material for decades until the late 1970s because of its strong resistance to fire and heat. Some of the household products that contain this mineral are textured paint, drywall compound, shingles, millboard, siding, duct insulation for pipe and furnace, and flooring adhesive. It has also been applied as insulating material in construction, automobiles and shipping. Actually, asbestos history can be traced back to the Greeks who noted its fireproofing capability.
However, it is interesting to note in asbestos history that the Greeks and Romans also observed the harmful effects of asbestos on the lungs. They observed the sickness of the lungs experienced by slaves who included asbestos fiber in their clothing. However, the Greeks and Romans were so amazed by the seemingly magical properties of asbestos that they chose to ignore its negative effects. The Romans had the habit of cleaning their asbestos napkins by throwing them into the fire. Amazingly, the napkins would not be burned but emerge whiter instead. The popularity of asbestos then declined in the Middle Ages but it became popular again during the late 1800s during the Industrial Revolution.
The health risks associated with asbestos became evident during the early part of the 20th century because in 1917 and 1918, scientists noted that asbestos workers were dying very young. An English doctor diagnosed asbestosis in 1924 in a woman who had been working with asbestos since she was 13 and died at the age of 33. This finding triggered research on the causes of death of workers in asbestos mining towns who were dying at an early age. Because 25 percent of these workers were found to have lung disease caused by asbestos, the English passed legislation that declared asbestosis to be a work-related disease and mandated an increase in ventilation in the workplace.
According to asbestos history in the US, the ban on the use of asbestos was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1989. Since then, laws have been passed governing the removal of asbestos or asbestos remediation and its proper disposal. It took so long for the US to act on the health risks posed by this mineral despite the publication of articles in the 1930s that suggested a relationship between asbestos and cancer because of two things. First, health concerns about this mineral were overshadowed by silicosis, which is also a lung disease caused by silica dust. Workers who were affected were able to successfully file $300 million lawsuits against their employers. Asbestos companies took this as a warning and promptly attempted to hide evidence about the health effects of asbestos. They continued to utilize asbestos as an ingredient. And despite the presence of safer alternatives, such as fiberglass, the companies chose to ignore the dangers of asbestos for the sake of protecting their profits.
