Although both the Greeks and Romans noted the lung problems that arose in asbestos miners and slaves who wore asbestos fibers, we continued to use this material for the majority of the 20th century. Sadly, now we know that asbestos causes terrible health problems like asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos was first used 3,000 years ago by ancient civilizations that populated the area that is now Finland. They used it for chinking for their houses and in pottery. Its popularity continued with the Greeks, Romans, and Persians 2,000 years ago. They mostly used the substance either in funerary rites or for cloths that often needed cleaning, such as napkins or tablecloths.
The popularity of asbestos declined until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. With the rise in machinery came the need for a material that was a suitable insulator for the heat, flames, and electricity that was either used or produced by the machines. Asbestos was found to be a perfect insulator for all of these things. Additionally, it protects against chemicals and resists degradation. As a silicate material, it also has high tensile strength and flexibility.
The arrival of the automobile industry and the gain in popularity of the construction industry in the 20th century spurred the production of asbestos-laden products from 1900 until the 1980s. At first, it was used mostly as brake pads, shoes, and clutch plates in autos. However, when people began to move to cities and business grew into skyscrapers, this is when the real 20th century revolution in asbestos usage began.
In the 20th century, we began to rely more and more on electricity. In buildings, this translated to air conditioning, heating, and the wiring needed to bring electricity into the edifice. Thus, to help keep our cold or hot air in, we needed insulation in our walls and ceilings. Additionally, the wiring to provide the power had to be insulated to keep it from sparking and catching things on fire.
Thus, asbestos was soon an ingredient in many products, including:
Wall insulation
Floor tiles
Ceiling tiles
Drywall
Shingles
Countertops
Pipes
Sadly, it was not until the 1970s that people began to protest asbestos due to the health issues associated with it. Finally, in 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out law that regulated the use of asbestos in industries. Also, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued legislation controlling the amount that can be used in and around a workplace.
Even though we are now aware of the dangers of asbestos, millions of people were exposed to the material before it became regulated. Thus, people could still now be developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
If you or someone you know has contracted mesothelioma due to illegal asbestos exposure, treatment can be expensive and stressful. For more information regarding your rights, check out the mesothelioma lawyers at the firm of Williams Kherkher today.
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