Why Was Asbestos Used So Much?

Construction became a thriving industry as factories emerged, large buildings were erected, and cities populated. Asbestos’ resistance to electrical damage, the tensile strength of asbestos, and its sound absorption abilities made it ideal for building material in the form of:

Cement
Caulking
Drywall
Drywall tape
Plaster
Brick and block mortar

Textured paints
Decorative building materials
Ceiling tiles
Vinyl floor tiles
Asphalt roofing
Shingles
Cement siding

With industrialization, energy was harnessed through the steam engine and electricity. At the end of the 19^th century and well into the 20^th century, fireproofing with asbestos became a popular solution for everything from boilers to firefighters’ protective clothing. Common fireproofing uses for asbestos included:

Fire-retardant sprays
Pipe coverings
Duct tape
Electrical panel partitions
Electrical wiring insulation
Fire curtains

Fire dampers
Fire doors
Gaskets
Heat guards
Heating ducts
Adhesives

The durability of asbestos also offered protection against corrosion, cold, vibration, salt water, dust, frost, alkalis, acids, rodents, and insects.

Supply and demand for asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring element existing in rock formations and is relatively abundant. Asbestos was and still is mined in certain countries throughout the world, with Russia, China, Canada, South Africa, and at one time the United States having the highest asbestos productions.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that the United States produced about 3.29 million metric tons (MT) of asbestos and used 31.5 MT between 1900 and 2003. Approximately half of this amount was used after 1960. The last U.S. asbestos mine closed in 2002. The USGS estimates that half of the world’s production and consumption of asbestos occurred between 1976 and 2003, with the United States and Western European nations comprising the largest asbestos consumers during the first two-thirds of the 20th century.