Asbestos
A naturally-occurring mineral that was long recognized for its insulating qualities, asbestos has been at the center of many health-related arguments for decades. First named by the ancient Greeks, the mineral was mined for centuries in countries throughout the world and used in a variety of applications, known not only for its heat and fire resistance but for its strength and durability as well.
The use of asbestos burgeoned after the Industrial Revolution. Records show that it was first used around 1860 as an insulation material, both in the U.S. and in Canada. Mining in North America began about 15 years later, with the largest mines located in the Quebec (Canada) Province. The asbestos produced by these and other mines made its way into U.S. factories, plants, and shipyards and was used to manufacture insulation and other fire-retardant materials, concrete, floor and ceiling tiles, pipes, bricks, drywall and drywall joint compound, lawn furniture, automobile brakes and pads, and roofing materials. At one point, it is estimated that about 5,000 household products contained asbestos including everyday items such as toasters and hairdryers.
Many considered asbestos to be a “miracle mineral”, but even in the early days of ancient Rome, it was evident that asbestos caused health problems. Roman philosopher and naturalist Pliny the Elder observed lung ailments and death at a young age in those slaves who worked in the asbestos mines. As the modern ages approached, nearly every industrialized country that was making use of the mineral reported significant health concerns among those who worked with asbestos and by the 1920s, the term “asbestosis” was regularly used to describe the pulmonary problems experienced by those who were exposed to asbestos dust. Compensation claims for asbestos exposure were being made in the United States as early as 1927.
Yet asbestos use continued throughout the nation and the world, with peak use occurring during World War II, when the mineral was widely used in the shipbuilding industry. Later, veterans and others who worked in these yards would have an astonishingly high rate of asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma cancer.
The 1970s finally brought warnings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about the use of the mineral, but for many who worked with asbestos without protective gear to prevent inhalation, it was too late. Furthermore, it is believed that many company owners, officials, and others knew about the dangers of asbestos for decades but did their best to cover up the facts, leading to unnecessary exposure for millions of individuals.
Today, while more than 40 countries in the European Union have now banned the use of asbestos, it has not yet been banned in the United States, despite attempts by many government politicians to promote a total ban. Those who toiled in asbestos mines, insulation factories, or elsewhere where asbestos use was the norm continue to be diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases.