The History of Asbestos and Related Health Issues

Recently, asbestos-related litigation has come to the forefront of our news and courtrooms. But, shockingly, asbestos use and knowledge of its health issues have been around for centuries.  Asbestos is a naturally-occurring group of minerals that form long, slender fibrous crystals. It can be found in the air and in some natural water sources. For over 2,000 years, humans have used asbestos for a variety of purposes because of its usefulness in manufacture and retardant effects.


Asbestos History The Ancient Greeks were the ones to give it the name "asbestos" meaning inextinguishable. Many Grecian slaves used the material to weave into cloth and it was noted, even at this early time period, that some people who used the asbestos in their clothing suffered from damaged lungs and health issues.Yet, asbestos was still a highly valued material in many cultures following these observations.

In fact, the material was used to induce awe from observers in Persia for its ability to be cleaned by exposing it to fire. Its use diminished during the middle ages.During the industrial revolution, asbestos re-entered the manufacturing industry with great flourish and previous health concerns were either forgotten or discarded. It was used to produce insulation for ovens, kilns, turbines and many other high temperature apparatuses.

The first commercial asbestos mine was created in 1879 in Quebec.It was around the turn of the twentieth century that researchers began to associate lung problems with asbestos mining. Britain began to regulate ventilation in the 1930s for asbestos miners after asbestosis was labeled as a lung-related disease. It took the United States an additional decade to follow these measures.Also, in the 1930s medical journals began to make the link between cancer and asbestos; mesothelioma, as a term, came into use in 1931.In 1970, it was proven in court that the asbestos industry knew of the risks associated with asbestos, but attempted to conceal them to maintain profits.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began regulating asbestos use, but it wasn't until 1989 that they began an asbestos ban and phase out rule.Unfortunately, a mere two years later, this ban was overturned in court. There are still many forces working against an outright ban of asbestos use.It is important to be aware of the risks associated with asbestos and symptoms associated with illnesses related to it, especially if you are involved in an industry known to have used it.

Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath during exertion and possible respiratory failure.Mesothelioma symptoms are much more extensive, and can include:

* Chest wall pain
* Shortness of breath
* Abdominal pain
* Wheezing or cough
* Weight loss
* Yellowing of the skin If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and believe you may have been exposed to asbestos, you should consult with your physician as diagnosis of asbestos-related disease is an involved and difficult process.