The Timeline of Asbestos Awareness: From Ancient Records to Modern Abatement
Introduction to Asbestos Awareness
Asbestos, a mineral fiber long used for its insulating properties, has a long and complex history of awareness and regulation. From ancient records to modern abatement projects, the journey of understanding the dangers of asbestos has been marked by both progress and deception.
Ancient Records of Asbestos Hazards
The first recorded instances of asbestos-related diseases can be traced back to ancient times. Ancient Greek geographer Strabo and Roman historian Pliny the Elder both documented lung diseases among slaves who worked with asbestos. This early evidence, although limited, highlighted the potential dangers of asbestos exposure.
Medical and Industrial Awareness in the Early 1900s
By the 1920s, medical articles started linking asbestos to lung disease, and by the 1930s, asbestos industry companies had privately collected evidence that asbestos exposure causes disease. A striking example of this awareness is the case of Nellie Kershaw, an English textile worker, who died in 1924 from pulmonary asbestosis. Her case was the first to be described in medical literature and the first published account of disease attributed to occupational asbestos exposure.
During the shipbuilding boom of World War II, U.S. military medical officers pointed out the dangers of asbestos exposure, but the industry managed to suppress and manipulate research to cover up the health risks. It wasn't until the 1960s that the link between asbestos and cancer was revealed to the American public.
Modern Abatement and Research
By the 1960s, severe diseases like mesothelioma were strongly established as being caused by asbestos exposure. Studies were conducted on non-occupational asbestos exposure, sometimes called subsequent exposure, comparing these cases to the families of those who worked with asbestos. Once asbestos fibers are in the body, they never destroy, and the body has extreme trouble discharging them. Over time, trapped asbestos fibers can cause infection, scarring, and eventually genetic damage to the body's cells.
The asbestos industry's actions during the earlier decades were a significant part of the problem. It wasn't until the work of Dr. Irving Selikoff and his colleagues at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York that sufficient medical evidence piled up to conclusively link asbestos exposure to lung disease and cancer.
People started taking it seriously in the 1990s, leading to mass abatement projects. Despite the significant dangers, asbestos still remains in many buildings and structures worldwide, necessitating ongoing awareness and efforts to address it.
Conclusion
The journey of understanding the dangers of asbestos highlights the significant gaps in scientific and industrial practices. From ancient records to modern abatement projects, the story of asbestos is a somber reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in protecting public health.