Asbestos Where You’d Never Expect It
When most people think of asbestos, they picture insulation, popcorn ceiling, or maybe automobile brakes. However, asbestos was present in some products where you would never expect it.
For example, some books published into the early 1900s were printed on asbestos-containing paper that could resist high temperature, humidity, chemicals, bugs, rats, and the sun’s rays. Baseball gloves and football helmets contained asbestos felt in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Chalk boards also were made with asbestos.
A holiday favorite, artificial snow that could be sprinkled on trees and as decoration, was pure asbestos fiber. It was advertised as pure, white, and fireproof, and manufacturers claimed it looked like real snow. Believe it or not, the snow that Glinda sent to fall on Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion in the poppy field scene of The Wizard of Oz was actually tons of pure asbestos fiber. Finally, household items that needed to be heat resistant or even fireproof, such as iron holders, mats, and pads commonly contained asbestos.
It is common knowledge now that exposure to asbestos causes cancers, such as mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Most people know that asbestos is fine as long as it is intact, in good condition, or completely sealed or encapsulated. Before the dangers of asbestos were established and widely recognized, many unknowingly put themselves at risk. Since there is a long latency period between exposure and development of symptoms of disease, many did not even realize they had been exposed until decades later.
Although asbestos is not completely banned in the U.S., use and management is highly regulated by government and environmental agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Risk of exposure is greatly reduced with increased knowledge and adherence to regulations.
