When Did They Stop Using Asbestos?
Asbestos, the once sought-after building material, known for its heat resistance and insulating properties, is today a dreaded term. Despite being recognized as a health hazard, asbestos still finds its way into many homes and buildings, due to its extensive use in the past. In this article, we’ll be delving into the history of asbestos usage, its health implications, and when we finally realized the danger it posed and stopped using it.
A Brief History of Asbestos
The use of asbestos can be traced back to the Stone Age, where it was used to strengthen ceramic pots. However, it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century that the use of asbestos truly skyrocketed. It was used in everything from insulation for steam engines to fireproofing for buildings. Its affordability and unique properties made it a popular choice in various industries, including construction, textile, and automotive.
Despite its popularity, early signs of the health risks associated with asbestos were already emerging. In the late 19th century, doctors began noticing a high incidence of lung problems in asbestos factory workers. However, these warnings were largely ignored, and the use of asbestos continued unabated.
Recognition of Asbestos as a Health Hazard
The first recorded death related to asbestos was in 1906, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that the health risks of asbestos began to be widely recognized. Researchers found that prolonged exposure to asbestos could lead to a variety of lung diseases, including asbestosis (scarring of the lung tissue) and mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer).
Despite the increasing evidence of its harmful effects, asbestos was still widely used due to lack of regulations and public awareness, and the fact that the effects of asbestos exposure take years, often decades, to manifest.
It wasn’t until the 1960s and 70s that the health implications of asbestos began to be taken seriously. Numerous studies were published during this period, highlighting the correlation between asbestos exposure and lung diseases.
Regulations and Bans on Asbestos
The first significant step towards regulating asbestos use came in 1971, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed asbestos as a hazardous pollutant. This led to regulations on the use and disposal of asbestos.
In 1989, the EPA issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule, which aimed to impose a full ban on the manufacturing, importation, processing, and sale of asbestos-containing products. However, this rule was largely overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991, leaving only a few products banned.
While the US has not completely banned asbestos, many countries around the world have. The first country to ban all forms of asbestos was Iceland in 1983. Since then, over 60 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and the entire European Union, have implemented full bans on asbestos.
Current Use of Asbestos
Despite the well-documented health risks, asbestos is still being used today in some countries, including India, Russia, and China, primarily due to its low cost and lack of regulations. Even in countries where asbestos is banned, it can still be found in many old buildings and homes built before the ban was implemented.
Asbestos removal is a complex and costly process, and if not done correctly, can lead to further asbestos exposure. As a result, in many cases, asbestos is left undisturbed if it’s not damaged or deteriorating. It’s only when asbestos is disturbed and its fibers are released into the air that it becomes a health risk.
Conclusion
The history of asbestos is a stark reminder of the potential dangers of unregulated industrial practices. Despite the known health risks, it took decades for regulations to be put in place, and even longer for most countries to implement a full ban on asbestos. Today, the legacy of asbestos still remains a major public health issue, with thousands of people each year diagnosed with diseases caused by asbestos exposure.
The Decline of Asbestos Use in the 1970s
By the 1970s, the dangers of asbestos had become increasingly apparent to the public, and its use began to decline significantly. In the United States, the first asbestos-related regulations were introduced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1971, which set maximum levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. This was followed by a series of bans on certain types of asbestos and products containing it.
However, it was not until the late 1970s that the real blow to the asbestos industry came. In 1977, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified asbestos as a human carcinogen. This led to a significant reduction in its use and marked the beginning of the end for the once thriving industry.
The Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule of 1989
In the United States, the most significant legislation regarding asbestos came in 1989 when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule. This rule was designed to eliminate the use of asbestos in all products over a seven-year period.
However, the asbestos industry fought back, and in 1991, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans overturned the ban. The court argued that the EPA had not provided substantial evidence that the ban was the least burdensome alternative to protect public health. Despite this setback, the rule did result in a significant reduction in the use of asbestos.
The Continued Use of Asbestos Today
Despite the known health risks and restrictions, asbestos is still not completely banned in many countries, including the United States. According to the EPA, asbestos is still found in many products today, including automobile brakes, roofing materials, and gaskets. The United States continues to import and use tons of asbestos each year, primarily for the chlor-alkali industry which uses asbestos diaphragms in the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide.
In contrast, more than 60 countries, including all member countries of the European Union, have completely banned the use, manufacture, and sale of all forms of asbestos. These countries recognize the significant health risks associated with asbestos exposure and have taken steps to protect their citizens.
The Legacy of Asbestos Use
Despite the decline in the use of asbestos since the 1970s, its legacy continues to impact us today. Millions of people have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home, and many have developed diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis as a result.
It is estimated that asbestos-related diseases kill thousands of people each year. In the United States alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the number of mesothelioma deaths continues to increase, with over 2,500 deaths reported in 2017.
The long latency period of asbestos-related diseases, often several decades, means that many people who were exposed in the past are only now developing symptoms. This has resulted in a significant number of lawsuits against companies responsible for asbestos exposure, leading to billions of dollars in compensation for victims.
The Future of Asbestos
The future of asbestos is uncertain. While its use has declined significantly since the 1970s, it is still used in some industries and countries today. The health risks associated with asbestos exposure are well documented, and there is a growing consensus among scientists and health professionals that all forms of asbestos should be banned.
However, despite this consensus, the implementation of a complete ban on asbestos is challenging. It requires not only the political will to enact such a ban but also the development of safe and cost-effective alternatives to asbestos. Until such a ban is in place, it is crucial to continue efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and to protect those at risk of exposure.
So, while the question “when did they stop using asbestos?” has no straightforward answer, the awareness and effort to completely eliminate its use is undoubtedly growing stronger every day.
Asbestos: A Brief Historical Overview
Before diving into when and why we stopped using asbestos, it’s crucial to understand the historical context of its usage. Asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, has been utilized by civilizations for thousands of years due to its heat-resistant properties. Ancient Greeks and Romans used asbestos in their building materials and even in their clothing. However, even these ancient societies noted the harmful effects asbestos had on the lungs of those who mined and manufactured it.
The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Asbestos
Fast forward to the late 19th and early 20th century during the Industrial Revolution, asbestos use skyrocketed. Its heat and fire-resistant properties made it the perfect material for a rapidly industrializing society. Asbestos was used in everything from insulation in buildings and ships, to automobile brake pads, to fireproof clothing for firefighters. At its peak, the United States was consuming nearly 800,000 tons of asbestos per year.
The Health Risks of Asbestos
Despite its widespread use, the health risks associated with asbestos were becoming increasingly apparent. In the early 20th century, doctors began to notice a correlation between asbestos exposure and lung disease. By the 1930s, the first cases of asbestosis, a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, were officially diagnosed. Despite these alarming discoveries, the asbestos industry continued to thrive, and the use of asbestos in construction and manufacturing continued unabated.
The Decline of Asbestos Use
It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the health risks associated with asbestos became too significant to ignore. In the 1960s and 1970s, research conclusively linked asbestos exposure to lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen. This discovery led to a dramatic shift in public opinion and regulatory scrutiny.
Regulation and Legislation
In response to these findings, several countries began implementing regulations to limit asbestos exposure. In 1973, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of spray-on asbestos insulation, marking the first significant regulatory action against asbestos in the United States. A few years later, in 1975, the EPA also prohibited the installation of asbestos pipe insulation and asbestos block insulation on facility components, such as boilers and hot water tanks.
The Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule
In 1989, the EPA issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule, which aimed to impose a full ban on the manufacturing, importation, processing, and sale of asbestos-containing products. However, this rule was overturned in 1991 by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, allowing certain asbestos-containing products to remain on the market.
Current Status of Asbestos Use
Today, more than 60 countries, including all member states of the European Union, have completely banned the use of asbestos. However, it remains legal and in use in the United States and several other countries, primarily in the construction and automotive industries.
While the use of asbestos has dramatically decreased, it’s still present in many older buildings and homes. Therefore, it’s crucial to be aware of the risk and ensure proper handling or removal by professionals to prevent exposure.
Conclusion
The journey from widespread use to the cessation of asbestos has been a long one, marked by industrial demand, public health discoveries, and regulatory battles. The hazardous effects of asbestos on health are now widely accepted, leading to its ban in many countries. However, the legacy of asbestos use remains a significant issue, particularly in older buildings where it still poses a risk to health. Understanding the history of asbestos use and its associated risks is vital in ensuring its safe handling and removal moving forward.
Decades of Asbestos Use: The Peak and the Decline
Before we delve into when asbestos usage stopped, it is essential to understand its history. Asbestos has been in use for thousands of years, with the first known usage dating back to around 2500 B.C. Fast forward to the 20th century, asbestos found its way into multiple industries, including construction, automotive, and shipbuilding, among others. Its popularity peaked around the mid-20th century, especially during World War II when it was extensively used in shipbuilding.
However, by the 1960s, health concerns began to emerge as workers started to develop severe health conditions linked to asbestos exposure. The material, once dubbed a “miracle mineral” because of its heat resistance, strength, and insulating properties, was now seen as a silent killer. The decline of asbestos usage started happening gradually from this point.
The Beginning of the End
As early as the 1930s, reports of diseases related to asbestos, such as asbestosis, began to surface. Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres. However, these reports did not receive the attention they deserved, and the use of asbestos continued unabated.
It wasn’t until the 1960s that the health hazards of asbestos started to be taken seriously. This shift can be attributed to the increasing number of medical reports linking asbestos to lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen. More and more workers who had been exposed to asbestos began to show symptoms of these diseases, leading to increased scrutiny and eventual regulations against the material.
The Regulatory Response
During the 1970s and 1980s, several countries started to impose regulations on asbestos use. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of spray-on asbestos products in 1973. This was followed by the banning of corrugated paper, rollboard, and commercial paper in 1975, and then the prohibition of asbestos in insulation and fake fireplace embers in 1977.
In 1989, the EPA attempted to impose a complete ban on the manufacture, importation, processing, and sale of asbestos-containing products through the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule. However, this rule was overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991, allowing certain asbestos products to remain on the market.
The Global Perspective
While the United States has not completely banned asbestos, several other countries have. In 1983, Iceland became the first country to ban all types of asbestos. Since then, more than 60 countries have followed suit, including all members of the European Union. Some of these countries, like Australia, have even gone a step further by removing asbestos from existing structures.
The Current State of Asbestos Use
Despite the known health risks, asbestos is still not entirely banned worldwide. Some countries, particularly in Asia and Eastern Europe, continue to use asbestos, primarily in the construction industry. However, the global trend is towards the reduction and eventual elimination of asbestos use.
Even in countries where asbestos is still legal, its use is heavily regulated. In the United States, for instance, the use of asbestos is restricted to certain products, and strict safety measures must be implemented when handling asbestos-containing materials.
The End of Asbestos Use: An Ongoing Process
So, when did they stop using asbestos? The answer is that it’s an ongoing process. While the peak of asbestos use was in the mid-20th century, it has been on a steady decline since the 1970s due to growing health concerns and regulatory measures. Today, the use of asbestos is heavily restricted in many countries, and completely banned in more than 60.
However, the legacy of asbestos use continues to affect countless people worldwide. This is primarily because of its widespread use in the past and the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases, which can take decades to develop. Therefore, efforts to stop asbestos use and manage its lasting impacts continue to this day.