Asbestos-Truth

War is the mother of invention and this is born out by the sudden increase in the use of asbestos during the Second World War. Asbestos became a hot topic during the 1970's in the US when evidence of asbestos appearing in the environment caused legislation to control it's use in industry came into force.

The EPA issued additional laws governing the ways in which asbestos could be used during the 1980's. There was much publicity about asbestos and many people today are aware of the dangers asbestos poses for the general public at large and also for the environment.

Asbestos occurs naturally as a mineral that is mined and processed into asbestos. Asbestos has some remarkable properties; it is fire and chemical resistant as well as not conducting electricity. Manufacturing was more than eager to use asbestos in its products due to its heat and chemical properties.

Asbestos was used to make joint compound, gaskets and various fire proofing aids. The construction industry found many uses for asbestos, as tiles, in paints and adhesive. Industry can still use asbestos but only if it can be proven that it is not possible for the asbestos to come into contact with people or the environment.

Asbestos exposure can be fatal as many of its effects are incurable with current medication. One of the commonest ailments caused by exposure to asbestos is asbestosis, which is inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibres.

A less commonly known ailment of asbestos is mesothelioma; it is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos that effect the major organs of the body. The two most common forms are pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the lungs, and pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the heart.

The health hazards of using asbestos although well known now have only been around since the 1970's. Asbestos exposure symptoms may take up to 50 years to show, it is for this reason that the medical profession took so long to links asbestos to the diseases that it causes.

Asbestos has been in a marked decline as soon as victims of asbestos exposure began to take legal action for compensation. The legal case between Corrosion Proof Fittings v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency leaves many consumer products that can still legally contain trace amounts of asbestos.

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.