Asbestos-Truth

The Second World War was the time when asbestos was used the most by industry since it's introduction in the 19th century. Laws on how asbestos could be used were introduced in the US during the 70's that restricted how asbestos was used by industry.

During the 1980's the EPA added to the laws issued by the Consumer Product and Safety Commission by passing laws stating that asbestos could not be used for any use which it had not been put to up until that time. The danger's that asbestos exposure can have on humans is known by almost all of the population after extensive education campaigns on the back of the laws passed in the 70's and 80's.

Asbestos occurs naturally as a mineral that is mined and processed into asbestos. The fact that asbestos will not conduct electricity is fire and chemical resistant made it ideal for industry. The special properties of asbestos found many uses in manufacturing and construction.

Asbestos based products were used in most walks of life, from lagging boilers to brake pads for cars. The fire retardant nature of asbestos as well as its sound proofing qualities made it an ideal material for the construction industry. If it can be ensured that the asbestos is contained and unable to reach the outside environment then the use of asbestos is legal.

Current medical technology is unable to treat all of the possible effects of asbestos fibres on humans. One of the best-known asbestos diseases is asbestosis, often called asbestos lung, which leads to shortness of breath and lung damage.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos; it forms around the protective lining of the bodys major organs. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart.

It is only in the last 3 decades that it has become apparent the effects on peoples health that asbestos causes. 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. In 1989 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule, which was overturned in 1991.

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.