We hear a lot about the dangers of asbestos in our homes and asbestos abatement is a billion dollar industry. While we focus mainly on the negative aspects of asbestos, it’s still a fascinating material. Here are ten interesting facts about asbestos that you might not have known about.
- The word asbestos is derived from the Greek word for unquenchable or inextinguishable.
- The first evidence of asbestos mining dates from 4500 years ago. People in Finland added asbestos fibres to the clay they used to make pots.
- One Persian king regaled guests by throwing asbestos towels into a fire to clean them.
- Asbestos is the only mineral that can be woven into cloth. King Charlemagne of France is said to have had a tablecloth woven from asbestos. He died of a lung ailment in 814 A.D.
- Beginning in the 1930’s, asbestos was an important component in shipbuilding. During WWII, up to a billion tons of asbestos went into ships built in American shipyards every year.
- Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral that’s extracted from under the ground. Major producers were South Africa, Canada, and Russia.
- The first commercial asbestos mine opened in Quebec in 1874.
- In ancient times, rubbing asbestos was thought to cure certain skin conditions.
- It can take up to 50 years after exposure to asbestos for medical conditions such as cancer to develop.
- At the end of the 13th century, Marco Polo visited China. While there he saw asbestos, and concluded that it was a stone, and not the hair of a woolly lizard as was previously thought.
Asbestos is an interesting mineral but sadly, prolonged exposure to it can be deadly. If you live in a home that was built before 1990, there’s a strong possibility that it contains asbestos. Before you do any kind of renovation, it’s a good idea to have it inspected to find out if it contains asbestos in popcorn ceilings, flooring, or insulation.
For asbestos inspections and removal in Calgary and area, contact Amity Environmental.
