Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring silicon based minerals which have been exploited over time for their various valuable characteristics. The material is made up of thin fibrous crystals which are immune to heat, chemicals and have immense tensile strength and flexibility. The material, by nature, is hazardous as inhalation of the fibres can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer, Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.

First documented by the ancient Greeks, they acknowledged the valuable properties of the substance whilst also being moderately conscious of the hazards. ‘Strabo’ a Greek geographer became conscious of the significant persistent lung damage of slaves who worked with the material, mining it and weaving it into cloth.

Asbestos was used for garments and tablecloths by wealthy Persians, Greeks and Romans, they would often demonstrate how the material could be cleaned using fire, and this became a popular status symbol as some cultures thought the material was made of the fur of an animal which lived in fire known as a ‘Samandar’.

By the 19th century commercially exploiting asbestos had become popular as it presented numerous assets unachievable with other materials. It was commonly used in fireproofing, bricks, pipe insulation and roofing as well as an array of other uses and its usage was not limited to buildings.

In the early 1900s, researchers noticed elevated death rates and lung diseases in asbestos mining areas and by the 1930s scientists had officially diagnosed sufferers of ‘asbestosis’ and ‘Mesothelioma’ with a direct link to the exposure to asbestos.

By the year 2000 all production and use of all kinds of asbestos was banned and by November 2006 the UK government had introduced a strict regulations aimed at minimising contact with the material. The legislations ban the use of the material but also provide strict guidelines on how to manage existing asbestos.

Do you think you may have been exposed to asbestos? You may be entitled to compensation, visit EAD Solicitor’s site for advice on personal injury claims.