continue to use asbestos.
You might be surprised at some of the applications of asbestos in the past.
Asbestos has been used in some shocking ways in the past.
Asbestos has been used in the past in all of the products mentioned below-
• Toothpaste
• Cosmetics
• Fake snow
• Hair dryers
• Gas masks
Let’s take a closer look at a few of them now.
Asbestos-containing cosmetics
It may surprise you to learn that individuals happily use asbestos-containing cosmetic items like make-up. Asbestos residues were
discovered in make-up as recently as November 2020.
However, how can asbestos become a component of cosmetic products?
Asbestos and talc are both naturally occurring minerals. Asbestos is extracted alongside talc. Today, talc (talcum powder) is utilised in a
variety of goods.
Talc is present in eye shadows, blush, foundations, creams, and finishing powders and gives make-up a smooth feel.
Due to a lack of restrictions on the manufacturing of cosmetic-grade talc, asbestos residues are frequently discovered, which are
subsequently used in beauty products. It isn’t inserted on purpose, but it isn’t tested frequently enough to be fully avoided.
Asbestos residues have been discovered in a number of well-known brand items, the most well-known of which being Johnson’s.
You may avoid this by purchasing talc-free products.
Toothpaste with asbestos
Asbestos was popularised as a toothpaste ingredient after World War II. What was the point of putting asbestos in toothpaste?
Because of the abrasive nature of asbestos fibres, they effectively clean your teeth.
The hazards were not known at the time, which seems weird now.
Gas masks made of asbestos
During WWII, nearly 100 million civilian gas masks containing asbestos fibres were manufactured. Their filters included chrysotile and, on
rare occasions, crocidolite asbestos fibres.
Asbestos was chosen because it was a widely accessible, inexpensive, and durable substance.
Although the goal was to shield people against gas bomb assaults, it is now being suggested that more harm was done than protection.
Every year, hundreds of individuals in the United Kingdom die as a result of asbestos-related illnesses.
Asbestos-related diseases have been observed in people who worked in manufacturing plants and on the assembly line in the 1940s.
This was traced down to fibre exposure during the gas mask manufacturing process.
Asbestos from fake snow.
Asbestos was utilised as fake snow on movie sets in the 1930s and 1950s. During this time, it was also utilised for Christmas decorations.
It was popular because, unlike other synthetics, the fluffy white material did not catch fire (asbestos is naturally fire-retardant).
In the production of “The Wizard of Oz,” asbestos fake snow was famously used.
The ‘snow’ in the poppy field was really chrysotile, one of the most dangerous types of asbestos in terms of health risks. High amounts of
asbestos were found in Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.
The Scarecrow’s suit was also said to be asbestos-fire-proofed after he had a few close calls with fire!
Cigarette filters made of asbestos
Kent, an American cigarette brand, was introduced in 1952 and is credited with revolutionising the filtering method. To manufacture
cigarette filters, asbestos was combined with crimped crepe paper.
Consumers flocked to buy these freshly created goods, which were heralded as the first filtered cigarettes. The success was due to
advertising that focused on the micronite (asbestos) filter’s “good health connotations.”
They were manufactured in this manner for four years before switching to acetate. Despite the fact that it was just a brief period of time,
individuals are still pursuing claims for damages.
People who filed lawsuits against Lorillard, the firm that produced Kent cigarettes, included not just users of the cigarettes but also factory
workers. Both were exposed to significant quantities of asbestos, which had negative health consequences.
Asbestos is still widely utilised today.
Asbestos has unfortunately not been outlawed, and is still used in several nations. India and China are two of the top countries that
continue to consume tonnes of asbestos every year.
Kazakhstan, Russia, Syria, Zimbabwe, and Belarus are among the countries that refuse to prohibit asbestos.
Despite the UK’s asbestos ban taking effect in 1999, the industry was actually not totally eliminated until 2005.
The UK passed its first asbestos prohibition laws back in 1985. Blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos were banned from import
and use.
Even with the apparent and documented health risks associated with asbestos, asbestos will not be outlawed anytime soon in these
nations.
Please contact us if you have any further questions regarding asbestos.
