Article Surfing Archive

The asbestos industry has exposed millions of workers and consumers to the health hazards of asbestos fibers since the early 1900s. The asbestos industry knew that they were putting workers at risk as early as the 1930s, but they preferred to suppress information on the carcinogenicity of asbestos. As a result, hundreds of thousands of workers developed diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos related lung cancer.

Anyone who has worked in the asbestos industry 20-50 years ago is at risk of developing mesothelioma. The risk increases with the duration and intensity of exposure.

Asbestos industry workers come from all sorts of working backgrounds and environments:

Aluminum plants ' These workers were often exposed when asbestos was used in aluminum products for building materials.

Chemical plants ' Workers in this asbestos industry were often exposed because of their working with the chemical itself for use in other industries.

Mining ' When the workers in the mines were digging for asbestos for commercial use, they also become exposed to the fibers of the chemical.

Oil Refineries ' Asbestos was rampant in this field as a way to protect the working area from heat during refining.

Power plants ' Asbestos is used to insulate the wires in power plants and to protect electronic equipment.

Shipyards ' Insulation in ships often contains asbestos. Welders use asbestos to protect them from heat exposure.

Steel mills ' In the refining process for steel, asbestos was used to create heat resistant workspaces.

Whether the asbestos was inhaled or swallowed during work in these asbestos industry situations, workers were and still are affected by mesothelioma and asbestosis diseases.

Another curious place where an asbestos industry was also found was in the cigarette industry. In Kent Micronite asbestos filtered cigarettes, the filters actually contained crocidolite asbestos, causing both the workers and the smokers to be exposed.

The problem with theses industries is that asbestos exposure can be minimized with the proper equipment and ventilation in the building. And while it's best to simply remove the use of asbestos entirely, there are still areas in which small amounts are used.

Asbestos is simply a superior building material when you want to insulate and resist heat in certain areas. And while it does cause harm to the lungs when inhaled or swallowed, this exposure can be controlled.

In the asbestos industry, there may not be as many materials made with this fiber, but that doesn't mean that it's not used anymore.