Regulating Asbestos Use
A history of usage
The fibrous minerals known as asbestos have been used for centuries because of their desirable physical properties. In ancient times, people used asbestos to strengthen earthenware pots and cooking utensils. During the industrial revolution, fireproofing with asbestos made possible the construction and maintenance of factories that used extreme heat in manufacturing processes.
By the middle of the 20th century, use of asbestos insulation was widespread because it was abundant, available, and worked well. Shipyard workers building U.S. Navy ships for World War II used fireproofing materials made with asbestos everywhere—wrapping pipes, lining boilers, and covering equipment and turbine parts. This significantly lowered the risk of fire, a major danger to naval vessels. But, breathing those asbestos fibers eventually led to the development of deadly mesothelioma and other lung disorders in many Navy veterans.
Many materials containing asbestos were installed in millions of vehicles, homes, factories, offices, and schools. Uses included:
- Vehicle brake pads
- Home and industrial insulation
- Tiles and other flooring
- Roof shingles and siding
- Other building and construction materials
Asbestos fibers were used in these and other common industrial materials.
Identifying the dangerous side effects of asbestos
Noticing large numbers of early deaths and lung problems in asbestos mining towns, researchers suspected the dangerous side effects of asbestos mining and use about a hundred years ago. Documents from the 1930s demonstrate that asbestos industry officials were aware of the side effects of asbestos and concealed the information from the public.
Asbestos use continued despite availability of substitutes
So why did asbestos use continue even though its dangerous side effects were recognized? Asbestos use continued because it was difficult or inconvenient for businesses to duplicate the insulation and fireproofing asbestos provides. While there are no perfect replacements containing all the characteristics asbestos, other substances that provide insulation and fireproofing, include:
- Fiberglass, stone, and glass wool house insulation
- Cement products reinforced with organic fibers, regular Portland cement, or silica
- Stone fibers used in gaskets and friction materials
- Synthetic fibers with extremely high melting points
The hard fact is that the economic interests of asbestos suppliers and manufacturers were allowed to prevail even in the face of incontrovertible evidence about the dangerous side effects of asbestos. Even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 1989 Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule was overturned, leaving many consumer products that can still legally contain asbestos.
Problems and costs of removal
Decades of pervasive use of asbestos insulation and other products resulted in its installation in millions of buildings. When this asbestos is disturbed during renovations, the fibers are released into the air, creating new hazards. For this reason, leave materials in which the asbestos is wholly contained intact and in place. Asbestos installations will remain with us for a long time to come.