From lifesaving to lethal: The dark history of this now-banned material

Once upon a time, asbestos was hailed as a “wonder material,” becoming crucial during the Industrial Revolution and playing a lifesaving role in preventing fires in homes, schools, and hospitals around the world. However, its deadly health effects became undeniable in the 1960s, leading to full bans in some countries and partial restrictions in others, including the United States.

Asbetos’ lifesaving role

Used for millennia in ancient cloths and lamps, asbestos became indispensable during the Industrial Revolution for insulating steam engines and buildings, helping to dramatically reduce fire-related deaths.

Its durability and heat resistance later led to widespread use in construction and consumer goods throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Deadly when inhaled

But the turning point came in the 1960s, when medical researcher Irving Selikoff proved what some had long suspected: microscopic asbestos fibers can be fatal when inhaled.

These fibers do not break down in the body and become embedded in lung tissue, causing scarring, fibrosis, and cancers such as mesothelioma, often decades after exposure. Earlier warnings from doctors and insurance companies had been ignored or suppressed by powerful industries prioritizing profit over health.

Is asbestos banned in the United States?

Selikoff’s findings sparked a wave of lawsuits and regulatory action. The United Kingdom banned all types of asbestos in 1999, but in the United States the material is still not fully prohibited.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos, the most common type, in 2024, yet some industries, particularly the chlor-alkali sector, are still permitted to use it. Millions of older buildings and products still contain asbestos from the era before regulation.

As a result, asbestos remains a present-day threat. Official figures link it to around 3,000 deaths each year in the United States, but experts believe the true figure is much higher due to underreporting and the disease’s long latency period.

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