Where Does Asbestos Come From? A History of How Asbestos Ended Up in our Homes

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How did asbestos end up in our homes? 

Asbestos became a common material in homes, offices, and other buildings during the early to mid 20th century due to its heat resistance, durability, and insulating properties. Its widespread use was largely driven by the increase in construction need during this time, where inexpensive materials were valued.

The dangers of asbestos exposure were not immediately apparent, and it wasn't until the 1960s and 1970s that the health risks associated with asbestos became widely known.

By then, it had already been used extensively in construction materials. As a result, many older homes still contain asbestos in their insulation, flooring, roofing, and other materials.

When was it discovered that asbestos was dangerous? 

Even before it was widespread knowledge that asbestos is dangerous to health, there was significant evidence to suggest that long term exposure caused harm.

In fact, Strabo, a Greek geographer in Ancient Greece, noted a ‘sickness of the lungs’ in people who were enslaved and had frequent contact with asbestos, most noticeably those who wove asbestos fabrics.

Even later, a Roman historian attempted to create an early form of face mask from goat’s bladder to protect slave miners from an unknown threat that caused a ‘disease of the lungs.’ 

Although these scholars were unaware of exactly what was causing this sickness, the evidence of the dangers of asbestos has been present since it was first used.

The first documented death of an asbestos worker occurred in 1906 when a pulmonary failure was reported at Charing Cross Hospital in London. A build up of asbestos fibres was found in his lungs during autopsy. The first reported diagnosis of asbestosis was in 1924 when a woman died at the age of 33 from 20 years of prolonged exposure to asbestos.

Because of this, a report was conducted that found 25% of asbestos workers in England showed signs of asbestos related illness in their lungs.

It is then reported that the dangers were brought to the attention of a number of people resulting in increased insurance premiums for asbestos workers, as further reports in asbestos factories across the world found similar early deaths from respiratory failure.

In 1931, laws were passed that insisted on additional ventilation in factories where asbestos was used. Following this, medical journals published numerous studies that linked asbestos to cancer, but it is thought to have been overshadowed by the recognition of silicosis and its subsequent lawsuits.

At this time, the need for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) outweighed these findings, and so asbestos use wouldn’t be banned until decades later. In the UK, asbestos use was completely banned in 1999.

Despite its ban, asbestos can still be found in many older buildings, and its potential health risks make it important for homeowners and businesses to be aware of where it may be located.

At Cordtape, we can assist you with locating and identifying Asbestos Containing Materials within your domestic or commercial property with our Asbestos Survey and Sampling service. If we do locate the presence of asbestos, our Asbestos Removal team will extract it from your premises in accordance with Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Our team is fully qualified to manage all aspects of asbestos assessment, removal, refurbishment and waste management so you don’t need to live in fear of the risk this material poses.

Contact us today.

Email: info@cordtape.co.uk

Phone: 0800 093 7810