Asbestos Use
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Asbestos was first used in the United States in the early 1900's to insulate steam engines. However, most of the >30 million tons of asbestos that was used in the manufacture of an estimated 3000 different products globally in the 20th century was used between the 1940's and 1970's. |
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The thermal insulation properties and non-combustable nature of asbestos led to the widespread use of these minerals in the production of insulation, fireproofing and friction products (e.g., brake pads). |
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The flexible, fibrous form of asbestos allowed it to be woven for such things as fire/acid retardant cloth. Chrysotile and crocidolite are the two varieties that have been spun into fibers. |
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Its strength, flexibility and penetrative fibrous form helped hold together building materials such as roofing, floor tiles and plaster. |
Common Building Materials Containing Asbestos
| PRODUCT | % ASBESTOS | DATES OF USE | HOW ASBESTOS CAN BE RELEASED |
| Roofing Shingles | 20-32 | Up to Present | Replacing, repairing, demolishing |
| Wall Coatings | 1-95 | 1935-1978 | Water damage, deterioration, impact |
| Joint Compound | 3-5 | 1945-1977 | Cutting, sanding, scraping |
| Vinyl wallpaper | 6-8 | ? | Removal, sanding, dry scraping, cutting |
| Floor Tiles | 1-20 | 1950-1980? | Removal, sanding, dry scraping, cutting |
| Mastic Adhesives | 5-25 | 1945-1980? | Removal, sanding, dry scraping, cutting |
| Block Insulation | 6-15 | 1890-1978 | Damage, cutting, deterioration |
| Preformed Pipe Wrap Insulation | 50 | 1926-1975 | Damage, cutting, deterioration |
| Corrugated Asbestos Paper Insulation | 35-70 | 1910-1980? | Damage, cutting, deterioration |
| Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency, as reported by WWW.WORKSAFE.ORG | |||
