From the late 1800s, asbestos was mined in the United States for many different uses.

For most of the twentieth century, asbestos was used for strengthening cement and plastics, for insulation and sound absorption as well as a flame retardant.

Asbestos is a commonly found material in older buildings and shipyards, but it is also a known carcinogen. As such, asbestos restrictions have changed over the years, but patients still continue to report asbestos-related illnesses.

Many industries have utilized asbestos for many decades. It has been used for hot water pipe and steam pipe insulation in the shipbuilding industry as well as in brake pads and clutch pads in the automotive industry.

Up until the 1970s, components commonly used in construction contained the naturally-occurring mineral.

In the late 1970s, asbestos restrictions were placed on wallboard patching compounds as well as gas fireplaces. These asbestos restrictions were put into place by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

It wasn’t until 1989 that the Environmental Protection Agency banned most asbestos products. But two years later, this rule was overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

The Court stated that the asbestos restrictions should be limited to “new uses” of asbestos and should not apply to those made before 1989. However, some products, if they contain asbestos, continue to be banned under the EPA’s rule. These include flooring felt, rollboard, as well as corrugated, commercial or specialty paper.

There have been many more asbestos restrictions and regulations put into place since the early nineties. There are asbestos restrictions regarding abatement practices, protection for workers and how children in schools should be protected.

Why Place Asbestos Restrictions?

Asbestos restrictions are in place because asbestos is a known carcinogen.

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that is mined from the earth. When asbestos fibers are released into the air, individuals can breathe them in. Repeated exposure to these asbestos fibers can bring about severe health conditions such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Asbestos fibers lodge in the lungs and cannot be breathed out by the individual. Over time, these fibers create inflammation and can be a trigger for different types of lung cancers.

According to Asbestos.com, 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. The same amount of people die from lung cancers related to asbestos annually as well. Additionally, over 200,000 Americans currently suffer from the inflammatory condition, asbestosis.

Asbestos restrictions have been put into place to protect workers, school children and the public in general. If you believe you have developed an adverse health condition because of repeated asbestos exposure, you may benefit from speaking with an attorney.