ASBESTOS HISTORY

ASBESTOS FACTS

ASBESTOS FORMS

ABESTOS

Asbestos History

The ancient Romans wove asbestos fibres into fabrics to make towels, nets and even head coverings for women. Many centuries before Christ, Finnish peasants mixed it in pottery and sealed cracks in their log huts with it. Ancient Egyptian clothing was found to contain asbestos fibres to improve durability. Asbestos was later used in cremation robes and candlewicks during the Roman Empire. In medieval times, Emperor Charlemagne reportedly used an asbestos tablecloth to convince some barbarian guests that he had supernatural powers - by throwing it into a fire and pulling it out unsinged! Some enterprising medieval merchants even sold asbestos crosses, citing their resistance to fire as evidence that they were made from wood from 'the true cross'.

Since the early 1920s asbestos was the insulation material of choice. The greatest use of asbestos was for the insulation of buildings and homes where pipe wrapping, roofing, wall insulation, siding, flooring, the insides of boilers, high temperature seals and gaskets and a host of other applications all contained this "miracle insulator". It is the only natural mineral that can be spun and woven like cotton or wool into useful fibres and fabrics.

There was a massive growth in asbestos imports during and after the Second World War, peaking in the 1960s. It is clear that a substantial proportion of the working population over the last 30/40 years has been exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos is now mainly banned as a building material, mining ceased in Australia in 1983. It has not been exported since 1984, however chrysotile (white asbestos) is still being imported until the new asbestos regulations come into effect in December 2003.