Asbestos-Truth

War during 1939-1945 was the driving force for the sudden and vast increase in the use of asbestos. Asbestos fibres being found in the environment forced the Consumer Product and Safety Commission to issue laws controlling the use of asbestos.

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.

It is a mineral that occurs naturally in fibre bundles, and the bundles can be separated into individual fibers. Asbestos has some remarkable properties; it is fire and chemical resistant as well as not conducting electricity. Manufacturing and construction were most willing to put asbestos to use in industry.

Asbestos has been banned from being used in auto parts such as brake pads, brake shoes and clutch plates. In the construction industry, asbestos fibers are used in ceiling tiles; paint that is lead based, plastics, adhesives, soundproofing material and insulation. It is legal to use asbestos in ways where it is guaranteed that they cannot come into contact with humans or animals.

The medical profession takes asbestos exposure very seriously because there are a number of possible health risks, which are untreatable with current medical technology. Lung damage caused by breathing in asbestos fibres is called asbestosis; it causes permanent lung damage resulting in a shortness of breath.

After Asbestosis, the second major ailment resulting from asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, this is a cancer of the lining of the major organs. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart.

The health hazards of asbestos have only been realised in the last 30 years by the legal and medical profession. The first diagnosis of asbestosis was made in England in 1924, by the 1930s, England regulated ventilation and made asbestosis a work related disease.

Due to litigation for asbestosis or mesothelioma industry has fallen out of favour with asbestos. 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.