{"id":14989,"date":"2023-09-18T15:55:24","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T21:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/?post_type=blog&p=14989"},"modified":"2023-09-18T15:56:51","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T21:56:51","slug":"1800s-asbestos","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/asbestos-blog\/1800s-asbestos\/","title":{"rendered":"1800s Asbestos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Asbestos has been used by humanity for millennia in a variety of applications. However, the process and development of asbestos use have taken many turns and seen many innovations before the regulation and bans in America in the late 20th century. Because of this, it\u2019s worthwhile to step back and consider the status and use of asbestos in the 1800s. During this time, we\u2019ll see some of the essential trends that led to the explosion of asbestos use in the 19th and 20th centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The long and sordid history of asbestos use around the world.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Asbestos is highly resistant to heat, pressure and corrosion, so it was used in many products, vehicles and buildings. In particular, many workplaces like factories, refineries, foundries and shipyards involve high amounts of heat, and were built with a lot of asbestos.<\/td><\/tr>
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The Backdrop of 1800s Asbestos<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s important to start by asking the fundamental question: what exactly is asbestos? It may surprise you to learn that asbestos is actually a term to describe several different things. In fact, asbestos<\/a> is an umbrella term used to describe a group of various silicate minerals that occur naturally in the earth. Today, the term asbestos is used interchangeably to refer to six different kinds of asbestos that make up either the serpentine or amphibole groups of asbestos. These two terms are given to describe the shape of asbestos fibers, either curly (serpentine) or needle-like (amphibole). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cSome asbestos fibers may bypass\u2026your body\u2019s natural defenses\u2026and lodge deep within your lungs. Those fibers can remain in place for a very long time and may never be removed.\u201d<\/h3>\n                            
Source: American Lung Association\n<\/a><\/p>\n                        <\/td>\n                    <\/tr>\n                <\/tbody>\n            <\/table>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Ancient Uses of Asbestos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the ancient Greek term \u201casbestos\u201d (meaning indestructible) was coined and popularized only a few hundred years ago, the understanding of asbestos and its durable qualities was well-known by ancient cultures. For example, during the Stone Age<\/a>, the ancient Kiukainen culture in the region of Finland used asbestos fibers for design elements in decorative pottery. Other cultures, including Egyptian, Roman, and Chinese used asbestos for things like shrouds, lamp wicks, and cloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People who worked in these industries prior the mid-1980s have a higher risk of developing <\/strong>asbestos-related diseases<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Construction<\/td>Factories<\/td>Foundries<\/td>Refineries<\/td>Shipyards<\/td>Mining \/ Milling<\/td><\/tr>
Demolition<\/td>Insulation<\/td>Steelworkers<\/td>Pipe Fitting<\/td>Shipbuilding<\/td>Mechanics<\/td><\/tr>
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Roofing<\/td>Textiles<\/td>Iron workers<\/td>Boilers<\/td>Firefighting<\/td>Brake Repair<\/td><\/tr>
Flooring<\/td>Cement<\/td>Electricians<\/td>Gasket Repair<\/td>Railroad<\/td>HVAC<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately so do their families.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Booming of Asbestos in the 1800s<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Besides some of these well-known applications of asbestos, it seems that the full potential of asbestos was under-realized in the centuries prior to the 1800s. This does not mean that asbestos was not used, but it seemed to remain a regional phenomenon for cultures located close to asbestos deposits. Moreover, asbestos was more commonly used in small-scale everyday applications like pottery; the large-scale asbestos production industry we know of today was not yet up and running, but it was quickly coming into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans.\u201d<\/span> 1 <\/sup><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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International Mining Efforts and the Asbestos Industry<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In the 19th and 20th century, industrialists were on the hunt for asbestos mines around the world.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
During the 1800s, companies began to realize the widespread possibilities of establishing asbestos mines as a way to harvest asbestos fibers for various manufacturing applications. These mines began to be established worldwide, especially throughout Canada, Italy, and various countries throughout South Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The use of asbestos in the textile industry signaled the pivot of the mineral into its incredible economic importance we are familiar with today. The story is said to start with Italy\u2019s patented development of asbestos thread<\/a> (spinning, weaving, twisting) in the late 1860s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Sharing a home or vehicle with someone wearing asbestos-tainted clothing puts you at risk of asbestos-related diseases.<\/span> 2 <\/sup><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Industrial Revolution was an Asbestos Revolution<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s not so much this process itself, but the chain reaction of different countries in the following years that really situated asbestos at the heart of the Industrial Revolution<\/a>. The reason for this is that the shift from hand to machine manufacturing required the need to maintain and protect machines from their intensive manufacturing processes. In other words, machinery, piping, and other components require protection from high heat and fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cGenerally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure.\u201d<\/h3>\n                            
Source: National Cancer Institute\n<\/a> (NIH)3<\/sup><\/p>\n                        <\/td>\n                    <\/tr>\n                <\/tbody>\n            <\/table>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Paving the Way for the Construction Industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The solution was asbestos, and one of the first industrial examples of this was the use of asbestos to heat-proof steam boilers. This protected machinery from getting too hot, but asbestos was also used to wrap the piping systems of boilers in order to keep water hot. This paved the way for using asbestos in insulation for attics and plumbing later on in the construction industry, as the early usage of asbestos in boiler systems proved the incredible insulating qualities of the mineral. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Nearly every building constructed before the mid-1980s contained asbestos products and building materials.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
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Not only did the circumstance of asbestos mining efforts provide the ability to supply Industrial sites with a fireproofing material to keep their machines running around the clock but the Industrial Revolution also meant that manufacturing technology now existed for asbestos-containing materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This marked the shift from using asbestos in small-scale utility applications like pottery and cloth to high-yield applications like construction and machinery insulation. Asbestos quickly shifted from a primitive resource to an industry-standard in the majority of manufacturing applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Asbestos has no taste or smell.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
You may not know you\u2019re breathing it.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Africa: The Source of the UK\u2019s Asbestos Industrialism<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Turner & Newall – an early asbestos manufacturer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some of the more popular companies found a way to get into the asbestos industry while it was still a niche industry by staking a claim in South Africa. Turner and Newall<\/a>, a British company, is one example of this. Founded in 1871, T&N became a key source<\/a> of asbestos manufacturing, with trades including boilermakers, ironworkers, steamfitters, pipefitters, insulators, steel workers, and factory laborers. The company saw widespread demand in the late 1800s and early 1900s, eventually leading to T&N\u2019s purchase of South African<\/a> land in order to establish an asbestos mining facility. Part of this availability had to do with Britain\u2019s involvement in the colonization of South Africa, and the influence of asbestos was so widespread that even a $10 Bill from the Central Bank of Swaziland once displayed the asbestos mine that was so central to the economy of that region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Do You Qualify For Compensation?<\/p>\n        
Quickly and easily find out how you were exposed by searching W.A.R.D., the largest asbestos database on the planet.<\/p>\n        FREE SEARCH > <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Henry the Innovator<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Johns Manville: The world\u2019s largest asbestos company<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the most famous (and infamous) companies in asbestos history is Johns-Manville<\/a>. This company began in the late 1850s with Henry Ward John\u2019s first patented product, asbestos roofing shingles. Ironically, Henry died from what is now believed to be the lung disease asbestosis in 1901, making him one of the first victims of the asbestos-containing products associated with Johns-Manville in the coming decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps ironically \u2013\nHenry Johns, \nfounder of the world\u2019s \nlargest asbestos company,\ndied of asbestosis.\n<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Along with the first success of shingles, JM eventually became one of the industry standards for boiler wraps and other asbestos applications that were being popularized in the 1800s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cSome asbestos fibers may bypass\u2026your body\u2019s natural defenses\u2026and lodge deep within your lungs. Those fibers can remain in place for a very long time and may never be removed.\u201d<\/h3>\n                            
Source: American Lung Association\n<\/a><\/p>\n                        <\/td>\n                    <\/tr>\n                <\/tbody>\n            <\/table>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Asbestos in Canada<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The final important piece in the makings of asbestos\u2019 widespread popularity in the 20th century has to do with the discovery of asbestos in Quebec Canada. This discovery in 1860 led to mining efforts in 1878 at Thetford Mines. While asbestos operations in Canada have since declined within the era of various national bans, Quebec continues to serve as a mining site in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Health problems associated with asbestos (it is a carcinogen).<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The health risks of asbestos exposure can include:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Mesothelioma: <\/strong>cancer of the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue surrounding the body\u2019s organs. This cancer is only known to be caused by asbestos exposure.<\/td>Lung cancer<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Laryngeal cancer:<\/strong> cancer of the larynx (section of the throat called the voicebox)<\/td>Ovarian cancer<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Stomach cancer<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Colon cancer<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Pharyngeal cancer<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Asbestosis<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> a chronic lung disease associated with asbestos exposure<\/td><\/tr>
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>Atelectasis<\/strong> (collapsed lung)<\/td><\/tr>
Pleural effusion<\/strong> (collection of fluid around the lungs)<\/td>Pericardial effusion<\/strong> (collection of fluid around the heart)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Compensation is available for asbestos exposure.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Which asbestos claim gets the fastest results?<\/strong><\/a>

What are asbestos trusts?<\/strong><\/a>

What is the easiest way to get asbestos compensation?<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lessons to learn from the history of asbestos in the 1800s<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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While these examples of asbestos in the 1800s may seem like unrelated facts, it is important to consider them from a bird\u2019s eye view. Together, they tell the story of how patenting, mining discoveries and the innovations of the Industrial Revolution paved the way for an explosive wave of production across the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going into the 1900s, no longer would asbestos be considered a niche industry or a cultural icon. Instead, it would become the industry standard in construction and manufacturing, making it a notorious material in homes, schools, and workplaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n