Asbestos has undergone quite an interesting journey since it was first used by humans back in 4,000 B.C. While its use today has been limited due to health risks, it wasn’t always this way. It took many years for the world to understand and demand limitations on asbestos use. For millennia, builders and manufacturers used asbestos in a wide variety of applications, which led to its incorporation into building materials worldwide.
Asbestos In Antiquity
The first uses of asbestos trace back to candle wicks, but a more interesting application emerged a thousand years later. During the time of the great pharaohs in Egypt, artisans wrapped rulers’ bodies in asbestos cloth for preservation.
Ancient Greeks wrapped the dead in asbestos to prevent their ashes from mixing with those on the pyres, a practice that emerged thousands of years later.
Ancient people found several practical uses for asbestos due to its fire-resistant properties. They wove asbestos into pottery, clothing, and tablecloths. Since fire served as the primary source of light during those times, the risk of accidental fires was quite high.
That fire resistance is what popularized the material all over the globe. The name asbestos actually comes from Greek, a rough translation meaning “inextinguishable.”
From antiquity into the Middle Ages, people continued to use asbestos as a popular fiber in various forms. They discovered further uses for it, including napkins and even purses. Additionally, they utilized it for insulation, a practice that continues today.
The Asbestos Boom
The true commercialization of asbestos is what caused such a flurry during the industrial revolution. While the use of asbestos was apparently worldwide, the manufacturing of this material wasn’t as much of an industry.
Asbestos mining did occur in ancient times, and there is even evidence that Greeks and Romans found harmful effects in slaves who worked in the mines. But it wasn’t until the 1800s that asbestos became such a lucrative pursuit, one that would come to shape the world we live in today, and not necessarily for the best.
Industrial Revolution and Widespread Adoption
It was a fairly widespread industry as well. Mines began popping up in Canada, Africa, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Whales, and Switzerland. Over time, it became completely global as machinery became a popular workhand for manual laborers. The boom intensified as women and children joined the workforce and faced the deadly effects of asbestos.
Innovative discoveries uncovered further capabilities of asbestos, revealing that it was not only fireproof but also resistant to heat, water, and chemicals. This expansion opened new doors for its various applications and increased the dangers associated with exposure.
As technological progress continued, strong insulators were needed more and more. Steam engines, turbines, and generators were just a few of the many places where asbestos found a new home. Military applications were also a major player in expanding the asbestos empire, especially during the world wars. All of this necessitated a massive mining workforce, one that would come to suffer the consequences of horrible conditions and lax regulations.
Researchers discovered clear evidence in the 1920s that inhaling asbestos dust was harmful. However, it took nearly 40 years for progress to occur and for voices to be heard. Eventually, in 1971, the formation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) led to the implementation of regulations for asbestos.
Over the next few decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would go to war against asbestos and attempt a ban on all asbestos-related products. Well, the ban didn’t completely work out the way it was proposed, and the mineral is still found in products today.
Asbestos Today
You might be surprised by just how many materials, products, and areas that asbestos remains prevalent today. If you’re in the building industry, this will come as no shock to you.
It can be found in:
- Cement
- Electrical wiring insulation
- Thermal insulation
- Car and airplane clutches
- Gasket and packing materials
- Roofing and flooring (especially tiles
- Spray on coating for steel buildings
- Brake pads
- Adhesives, sealings, and coatings
The list goes on and on. Understanding where asbestos is found, how it affects the body, and the many ways you can prevent unwanted exposure can greatly affect how you handle possibly hazardous materials. An asbestos awareness training course can provide a great baseline understanding of asbestos and how to protect yourself, your workforce, and your loved ones.
