While we often talk about how dangerous asbestos can be, and how its use and removal is subject to strict regulations, many people may not know why it was originally introduced as a material, and how and when regulation came about.
The Health and Safety Regulations website has a nice short history of the material and its regulation. Here's a short excerpt:
"Asbestos is now known as a human carcinogen. It was specifically linked to mesothelioma in the 1950s, and now we know that it can also cause lung, throat, esophageal, colorectal, gastrointestinal, and kidney cancer. Asbestos is not dangerous until it becomes waterborne or airborne, where you can ingest or inhale the mineral. From there, asbestos particles can become lodged in your body. Your body cannot break down asbestos fibers, so instead it may form nodules around them. These nodules can turn into cancerous tumors."
The article also explains why asbestos was seen as such a useful material to use:
"As a silicate, asbestos has high insulating properties. Silicates are resistant to electricity, heat, flame, chemicals, as well as degradation. Additionally, asbestos itself is useful because it has both high tensile strength and flexibility, which makes it easy to add to other materials."
Check out the full article at the Health and Safety Regulations website (image courtesy of Ural Asbest)
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