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.

The EPA strengthened the laws on the use of asbestos in the 80's, banning the use of asbestos in any new use. Although there has been much publicity about asbestos and many regulations passed either banning or controlling it's use many people are unaware of how harmful asbestos can be.

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in nature in fibre bundles. The reason why asbestos was so widely adopted by industry was because of the heat and chemical properties it possessed. Adoption of the use of asbestos was wide spread in many industries eager make use of it's special properties.

Asbestos products include brake shoes and clutch pads for automobiles, insulation for boilers and steam pipes on ships, and strengthening agents for cement and talc-based crayons. Wall and ceiling tiles, adhesives and joining compounds all contained asbestos and were used by the construction industry up until they were banned. As long as it can be ensured that the asbestos fibres are unable to become exposed to the environment, then their use is legal.

Exposure to asbestos can be fatal as there are several possible asbestos related ailments, which are incurable. 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.

Mesothelioma is often reported as a disease resulting from asbestos exposure that is listed in many asbestos litigation cases. 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.

Despite centuries of asbestos mining and usage, asbestos exposure has only recently been recognized as a health hazard. The term Mesothelioma was not used in medical literature until 1931, and was not associated with asbestos until sometime in the 1940s.

As the level of litigation for compensation for asbestos exposure increased, its use has reduced dramatically. 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.