The rise and fall of fibrous asbestos

In the commercial market, the term asbestos covers fibrous forms of the minerals actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite and tremolite. The ability of the fibres to be woven along with their heat resistance and high tensile strength led to widespread applications of asbestos in fire-proofing materials, brake linings, prefabricated boards for construction, roofing tiles and insulation. As the graph below shows, world production of asbestos was at a peak in the mid-1970s and has since declined. Most of the asbestos mined nowadays is chrysotile, and continuing applications are largely in roofing materials, gaskets and  friction products including brake linings.

The dramatic downturn in the use of asbestos is associated with its severe health risks: the respiratory disease asbestosis is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres by workers constantly exposed to them. Strict legislation controls the use of asbestos, and demolition or renovation of old buildings often reveals large amounts of asbestos, which can be cleared only under qualified specialists. The decline in the production and use of asbestos is set to continue as further restrictive legislation is passed.