Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral. Its use dates back to the Stone Age, when it was used to strengthen ceramic pots. Its ability to withstand flame and heat while being flexible enough to be incorporated into cloth made it a popular component in Ancient Egypt and Greece. It was also a ubiquitous element of the Industrial Revolution, when it was used in numerous construction applications as well as in industrial settings, transportation, and manufacturing. In the United States, asbestos reached the peak of its popularity in the years following World War II, when its use was expanded into shipbuilding and military applications.

Though asbestos is inexpensive, plentiful, and useful, it is also a deadly carcinogen. As long ago as 1899 medical professionals began documenting lung disease in workers exposed to asbestos. Early deaths were noted in asbestos mining towns, and an autopsy conducted in the year 1900 on a textile mill worker identified asbestos fibers in the man’s lungs. By 1924 the term asbestosis began to be used to describe lung scarring caused by exposure to the material, and the term mesothelioma was first used in 1931, though it took until the 1940s for it to be specifically associated with exposure to asbestos.

In the years since, a great deal has been learned about how asbestos causes malignant mesothelioma. The physical characteristics that make asbestos flexible also lead to it breaking down easily into tiny fibers that are easily inhaled or ingested and that — once inside the body — are difficult to expel. The breakdown of asbestos comes with age, as well as with materials containing asbestos being manipulated, cut, or in any way disturbed—the type of activities that are constant in manufacturing, construction, demolition and other workplace environments.

Over the years a great deal has been learned about the use of asbestos and how exposure leads to malignant mesothelioma, but one of the most disturbing aspects has been the discovery that owners of companies that used the material were aware of its dangers and chose to keep the information a secret. In failing to warn the public of asbestos’ dangers, they exposed countless individuals to potential illness and robbed families of loved ones.