The history of Asbestos
The use of asbestos is thought to date back approximately 4500 years. In fact, it would remain in use for nearly 2000 years before scientists discovered just how dangerous the material was.
With the discovery of just how powerful asbestos was, mining across the world began in the late 1800s.
In the early 1900s, the asbestos industry boomed. It was used to manufacture everything from wall and ceiling panels to insulation, pinboards, ropes, and toilet seats. It was even used as fake snow in classic Hollywood movies!
Although the first reported asbestos related death was in 1906, the effects of exposure take 15-60 years to develop so it was decades before the true dangers came to light.
By the mid-late 1900s, asbestos was affecting not only those who had worked directly with it, but also their families who were subjected to secondary exposure when workers unknowingly brought asbestos fibres home on their clothing and belongings.
Now inhalation of asbestos fibres is considered extremely dangerous to your health and unfortunately, it is fatal in many cases.