Six silicon based naturally occurring minerals made up of microscopic, fibrous crystals are known as Asbestos. The material has been historically used for its mixture of prized qualities. Asbestos is resistant to heat and chemicals and have vast tensile strength and flexibility. Hazardous by nature, inhalation of the material can cause severe health issues such as lung cancer, Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.
The use of asbestos was first documented by the ancient Greeks; they acknowledged the valuable properties of the substance whilst also being moderately conscious of the hazards. The Greek geographer Strabo noted the remarkable chronic lung damage of slaves who worked with the material, mining it and weaving it into cloth.
Wealthy Persians, Greeks and Romans all used asbestos for garments and tablecloths they would clean using fire, a popular status symbol as some cultures believed the material was made of the fur of a ‘Samandar’, an animal which lived in fire.
By the 19th century commercially exploiting asbestos had become popular as it presented numerous assets unachievable with other materials. It was commonly used in fireproofing, bricks, pipe insulation and roofing as well as an array of other uses and its usage was not limited to buildings.
Researchers noticed elevated death rates and lung diseases In the early 1900s, particularly in asbestos mining areas and by the 1930s scientists had formally identified sufferers of ‘asbestosis’ and ‘Mesothelioma’ and directly linked them to asbestos exposure.
By the year 2000 the use and production of all kinds of asbestos was prohibited and by November 2006 the UK government had set up a group of strict regulations intended on minimising contact with the material. The legislations outlaw the use of the material but also offer stringent measures on how to handle existing asbestos.
Have you been exposed to asbestos? You are probably entitled to compensation, visit EAD Solicitor’s site for advice on personal injury claims.
