Asbestos-Truth

Industry first began to use asbestos during the 19th century and its use rose substantially during the period of the Second World 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. Most people today in the 21's century are aware of how harmful asbestos is to them if they are exposed to it and breath in the fibres. The message that asbestos is dangerous has been instilled in most people and they are aware that they should not inhale asbestos fibres.

Asbestos fibre occurs naturally as fibre bundles and it was these that were mined to create asbestos used in industry. Asbestos has amazing fire and chemical resistance, coupled with the fact that it is not a conductor of electricity. Asbestos with it's wonder characteristics caused it's use in many manufacturing and industrial uses.

Asbestos was widely used in the home as well as the factory with asbestos being used in crayons as well as fire blankets. Wall and ceiling tiles, adhesives and joining compounds all contained asbestos and were used by the construction industry up until they were banned. 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.

Current medical technology is unable to treat all of the possible effects of asbestos fibres on humans. Asbestosis is probably the most common asbestos related disease, it is often seen as a severe shortness of breath caused by the lining of the lings becoming inflamed by the asbestos fibres.

Another disease caused by asbestos is a cancer of the lining around the major organs of the body called mesothelioma. If the mesothelioma cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

Asbestos became more widespread during the industrial revolution; in the 1860s it was used as insulation in the U.S. and Canada, this is long before the modern world recognised the hazards of asbestos. Asbestos disease can take several decades after the initial exposure to finally appear in the victim; it is for this reason that it took medical professions many years to establish the link between asbestos and the diseases that it is responsible for.

A complete ban on asbestos containing material in Australia was introduced in 1991 although some building materials in storage were still being used in the years that followed. If legal safety standards are followed then, even though the dangers of asbestos are known it is still legal for industry to use it.

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.