Asbestos-Truth

Dramatic increased of the use of asbestos were seen during the second world war, up until this time asbestos had been used sparingly since it's first application by industry in the 1800's. During the 1970's the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission issued the first laws banning the use of asbestos due to evidence that the fibres were finding their way into the environment.

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. 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 occurs naturally as a mineral that is mined and processed into asbestos. There are few products that have the same fire and chemical resistance that asbestos possesses. Manufacturing and construction were most willing to put asbestos to use in industry.

Asbestos based products were used in most walks of life, from lagging boilers to brake pads for cars. 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.

Asbestos exposure is taken very serious, as some of the diseases associated with asbestos are untreatable. 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 a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. 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 asbestos have only been realised in the last 30 years by the legal and medical profession. It can take up to 50 years for mesothelioma or asbestosis to become apparent in the victim; this is the reason why it has taken so long for the link between the diseases and asbestos to be made.

As asbestos litigation becomes more common, the use of this substance has, in most applications, declined. 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.