Asbestos is the name for a group minerals valued for their tough, heat and fire-resistant and insulating properties. However, the material is hazardous and inhaling the short, sharp fibers can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis, diseases that take decades to develop. It was commonly used until the mid-1970s for insulation and fireproofing, but at this point the public became aware of the dangers of using asbestos and it was used less and less. It is unknown how long manufacturers knew that the material was hazardous, but it’s clear that some knew well before the public did and made efforts to keep it secret.
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.
Unfortunately, the concern does not end with manufacturers ending their current use of asbestos. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, some of those dangerous fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems. If you’re having your home remodeled, it’s less likely that you’ll develop an asbestos-related disease than those people who were exposed to asbestos regularly as a job. It is more common among people that work in industries that mine, make or use asbestos products and those living near these industries, including the construction industry, the manufacture of asbestos products and during automotive brake and clutch repair work. Now it’s common with people who work with deteriorating, damaged, or disturbed asbestos-containing products such as insulation, fireproofing, acoustical materials, and floor tiles.
