Asbestos-Truth

Commercial exploitation of asbestos started in during the 1800's but increased dramatically during 1939-45. The United States was the first country to issue laws banning the use of asbestos after irrefutable evidence came to light that asbestos was finding it's way into the environment.

The EPA felt that more control was required over the use of asbestos in the 1980's as it issued it's own laws controlling how and where asbestos was used by industry. Despite all the attention asbestos has received over the years there are a surprising number of people who have no idea how harmful the fibre can be to humans.

It is a mineral that occurs naturally in fibre bundles, and the bundles can be separated into individual fibers. Asbestos fibers are resistant to heat, fire and chemicals, and they do not conduct electricity. With it's unbeatable properties of heat and chemical resistance many uses for asbestos were found in the home and industry.

Asbestos has been banned from being used in auto parts such as brake pads, brake shoes and clutch plates. The fire retardant nature of asbestos as well as its sound proofing qualities made it an ideal material for the construction industry. As long as the fibers are encased and contained, with little chance of exposure under normal conditions, all of these uses are legal.

Current medical technology is unable to treat all of the possible effects of asbestos fibres on humans. One of the most common diseases resulting from exposure to it is asbestosis, sometimes called asbestos lung, which is a chronic inflammation of the lungs that leads to shortness of breath, coughing, and even permanent lung damage.

After Asbestosis, the second major ailment resulting from asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, this is a cancer of the lining of the major organs. Mesothelioma usually affects the lungs or the heart of the victim.

Despite centuries of asbestos mining and usage, asbestos exposure has only recently been recognized as a health hazard. In the late 1970s court documents proved that asbestos industry officials knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure and tried to conceal them.

The use of asbestos has declined due to the level of litigation that has taken place by its victims once the link between asbestos and the diseases it caused had been established. Asbestos fibers are still legal, despite the hazards of exposure, only if manufacturers follow all legally required safety standards.

The author of this web articles has written many other articles about asbestos. If you are interested you can find links to some of their other work below.