We’ve known about it for 4000 years
NEITHER the use of asbestos nor the
illness that comes from using the man-made mineral fibre is new.
Traces of asbestos have been found
as a strengthening agent in Finnish pottery 4000 years old. Early Greeks
coined the word asbestos meaning “not consumable,” and ancient Roman
historians wrote about “the diseases of slaves” who were involved in
processing lead, quicksilver mining and weaving asbestos.
By the time of Christ, transparent
bladder skins were used as primitive forms of respiratory protection to
prolong the working life of slaves.
In the 12th century, Marco Polo
brought back asbestos cloth from Asia, and raw asbestos was used to line
fireplaces in Europe. Asbestos was first commercially mined in Canada in
1880, and later Russia and Zimbabwe. Further large deposits were found in
Australia, and much smaller deposits in New Zealand’s Dusky Sound and
Golden Bay, where small amounts were mined at Takaka.
English factory inspectors found
serious health problems caused by asbestos in 1899. By 1918, giant
Prudential Insurance refused to insure asbestos workers.
Asbestosis (scarring of the lungs)
was medically described in 1927. Seven other asbestos-related diseases
including mesothelioma, pleural and lung cancer, have since been defined.
Almost all New Zealand’s supply of
crude asbestos was imported from the mid 1930's peaking to 12,500 tonnes
in 1974, and finally stopping in 1992. Blue and brown asbestos were banned
in 1984. Friction material containing white asbestos, such as brake and
clutch linings, is still imported, although in line with international
thinking, there are moves to have this banned, too. The problem today goes
beyond asbestos. Fibreglass, another and even older man-made mineral fibre,
is proving to be a dangerous substitute for asbestos dust. Fibreglass is
already used commercially in more than 30,000 products with a further 3000
new products introduced each year.
While damaging exposure to unsecured fibreglass is apparently not limited
just to the respiratory system, the level of danger, and what to do about
it still has to be officially addressed.
One Mans
Story |
