Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that breaks down into fibers. While asbestos has many useful properties, its ability to break down into minute particles causes significant health concerns. Due to these health concerns, in 1989 the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) banned the use of asbestos.
Most people thought that would take care of the problem, but what isn’t commonly known is that in 1991 that regulation was overturned. The final outcome was that new uses of asbestos were banned, but old uses remained. It may surprise you to know some of the ways asbestos is still being used.
We usually think of asbestos as that nasty, itchy stuff used in old homes for insulation. When I was a kid, my mother had a pair of curtains made from asbestos fibers. Today, it may surprise you to learn that asbestos fibers are still used in some duct tapes, spackling compounds, and roofing repair asphalt.
The main problem with asbestos is its ability to break down into minute particles; friable asbestos can be easily crumbled with your hand. When airborne, these particles can be inhaled and can cause respiratory diseases and cancer. Asbestos particles can also lodge in the skin and the body can’t expel them.
The dangers of asbestos have been well known for decades. Few countries mine asbestos anymore, but those that do still find buyers for their product, or they wouldn’t continue to mine it. Estimates say that about 3,000 different commercial products still include asbestos.
