Early Asbestos Use

The U.S. Geological survey explains that the history of asbestos use dates back at least 4,500 years, when people living in modern-day Finland used anthophyllite from a local deposit to provide reinforcement of their clay utensils and pottery. Other early references trace the use of asbestos as a component of lamp wicks and crematory clothing. Asbestos was also used in tablecloths and garments as well. During Marco Polo’s thirteenth century visit to China, he was amazed to witness these articles tossed into flames, only to emerge cleansed and undamaged.

Early Commercial Asbestos Exploitation

Peter the Great of Russia began the manufacture of asbestos paper at the end of the seventeenth century. To make this paper, he accessed chrysotile deposits in the Ural Mountains. However, the first use of asbestos on a truly industrial scale began in nineteenth century Italy, when asbestos textiles were developed. The end of the nineteenth century brought the discovery of significant asbestos deposits around the world. Use of Canadian deposits began in 1878, South African mines were opened in 1893, and Russian asbestos production began in 1885.

The twentieth century ushered in an era of expanded asbestos applications. This was especially true for thermal insulation, where the material was highly useful. In addition, the development of a process to fabricate asbestos-cement composite sheets was another industrial application that arose. The automobile industry’s arrival opened yet another field for the material, as it was an effective component in brakes, gaskets and clutches.

U.S. involvement in World War II spurred on the growing popularity and production of asbestos, as it took on military applications as well. It was primarily used as a thermal insulator and fire protection, particularly in the construction of military Navy vessels. However, after the war ended, the use of asbestos expanded into the residential and industrial construction fields. This continued for three decades, when in 1973 the use of asbestos peaked at nearly a million tons.

Recognition of Asbestos as a Health Threat

Shortly after this peak, asbestos use began a downward spiral among mounting concerns about human health. Although respiratory illnesses due to inhaling asbestos in milling and manufacturing plants had been observed since the beginning of the century, it was not until the mid-1960s than Americans began taking exposure to this material seriously. An emerging awareness during the period of the 1960s and 1970s of the long-term exposure risks helped drive this reduction in use. In addition, knowledge of the military’s heavy use of the material during World War II, particularly on ships, began scaring many veterans who had escaped the dangers of war only to confront the possibility of disease. Although the Environmental Protection banned the use of all forms of asbestos in 1989, 1991 saw the lifting of that ban.

Modern Asbestos Use

Although banned in the European Union and Australia, asbestos use in some products remains legal today in the United States. Banned asbestos uses include its addition to flooring felt, rollboard, and corrugated, commercial, or specialty paper. In addition, current regulation prohibits the use of asbestos in products which never historically contained the material. Nevertheless, despite its limited use in the United States, its past popularity in virtually all construction means any home, office or industrial facility built before 1980 likely contains some source of residual asbestos materials, as do many consumer products from this period.