Asbestos Uses

Many people are familiar with asbestos, albeit for unfortunate reasons. While the uses for asbestos are tremendous in number, it is also a substance which has, in recent years, been to blame for a number of illnesses and has been shown to be detrimental to human health. It is now known that inhaling asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, among other complications. Still, many people are unaware of exactly what asbestos is used for. This material was widely used in the construction of countless buildings in years past.
For many decades, the uses for asbestos included a number of implications in the automotive industry. Asbestos was frequently implemented as a material in brake systems and clutches, although it has been largely absent from these products since the early 1990’s. Prior to the mid 20th century, asbestos was even used in gas mask filters, as it is a very capable filtering apparatus. However, since the discovery of asbestos’s toxic nature, this practice has been discontinued. Asbestos is still sometimes used as filtering material for liquid chemicals and in alcohol production.
In the late 1800’s, the uses for asbestos became increasingly many, leading to widespread use of the material in construction. Asbestos has superior absorption qualities which make it incredibly soundproof and effective as an insulation material. For this reason, many buildings are outfitted with asbestos insulation in the ceilings, walls, and sometimes even floors. Similarly, asbestos is a very capable electrical insulator, and has been used in a number of electrical systems to encase wiring and other devices. Many health complications have arisen from humans inhaling the fibers from asbestos insulation, which can cause great damage to the lungs.
The uses for asbestos include many other construction materials. Many homes are outfitted with what are known as “popcorn ceilings,” many of which are composed of a mixture of asbestos and other insulation materials. Drywall and shingles are also common housing components which include traces of asbestos.
Aside from its insulation properties, the uses for asbestos include a number of fire retardant materials. Fire blankets, fire proof doors, and fire resistant gear for firefighters and police officers are just a few of the many implications of asbestos in fire proofing. Asbestos has also previously been used in the construction of furnaces, toaster ovens, and microwaves. Pre-made fireplace logs used to contain asbestos, as well, since its properties helped the logs burn more slowly.
Knowing the uses for asbestos can help you identify areas where the risk of inhalation may be elevated. Although many asbestos uses have been banned in recent years, many older buildings may still be outfitted with large quantities of asbestos in the ceilings and walls, as well as the electrical systems. Still, it is possible to be susceptible to asbestos inhalation indirectly. Asbestos residue on miners’ clothing has been shown to cause lung damage to people via secondary transmission. At present, no “safe” level of asbestos exposure or inhalation has been determined. For this reason, it is best to be aware of your surroundings in order to minimize your exposure to this potentially harmful material.