Asbestos

Asbestos is a very useful material. It can withstand very high temperatures, electricity and chemical damage, can absorb sound and has a very high tensile strength. Of course, as we are aware now, it is also very dangerous to humans. From the early twentieth century, there was a growing awareness of these harms, 1909 is perhaps the first partial rule (in Italy) but it was the British Asbestos Industry Regulations of 1931 that were to first comprehensively regulate the area. Nevertheless, asbestos was not finally banned completely until comparatively recently: 1992 (Italy, commerce effectively stopped 1994), 1999 (UK), (Spain: 2001). Since the invention of Fibreglass insulation in 1938, there was an alternative to asbestos, but even today it is still mined and refined in many countries in the world, especially Russia.

Asbestos causes asbestosis and the cancer mesothelioma. In 2003 1,874 persons died of mesothelioma in UK and the peak of deaths will be between 2011-2015 with around 1,950-2,450 deaths (UK). This highlights the delay period between contraction and death. In Italy the estimations range from 4,000 to 5,000 deaths per year (with its peak in 2010). In Spain the estimation is of 50,000 victims over the next 30 years (at a rate of more than 1,600 per year). In France estimations range from 2,000 to 3,000 deaths per year.

From fibres so small, comes deseases so large.