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Asbestos
History and Use
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially in North America since the late 1880s. Its use increased greatly during World War II. Asbestos has been used in many industries, including:
| Building/Construction |
Shipbuilding |
Automotive |
Gardening |
| cement/plastics strengthener |
insulate boilers |
vehicle brake shoes |
vermiculite-containing garden products |
| insulation/roofing |
insulate steam pipes |
vehicle clutch pads |
some talc-containing crayons. |
| fireproofing/sound absorption |
insulate hot water pipes |
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| ceiling/floor tiles |
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| paints/coatings/adhesives/plastics |
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products could be released into the environment during use in the late 1970’s. In addition, manufacturers of electric hairdryers voluntarily stopped using asbestos in their products in 1979.
In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; however, uses developed before 1989 are still allowed.
The regulations described above and other actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the health hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in the U.S. use of asbestos. Domestic consumption of asbestos amounted to about 803,000 metric tons in 1973, but it had dropped to about 2,400 metric tons by 2005.
Please navigate to the links below to find more information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos and what patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma can do to protect their legal rights or contact us to learn about your legal rights.
We are here to help people diagnosed with mesothelioma protect their legal rights and the legal rights of their loved ones.
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