Derived from an ancient Greek word meaning "inextinguishable". One of the oldest and most widely used minerals known to man for over 2000 years. Early days it was a curiosity rather than a commercial commodity and was mainly used by the affluent for royal cremations to preserve the ashes.
Asbestos was used in a variety of everyday products such as asbestos-cement sheet, prefabricated walls, corrugated roofing sections, roof tiles, water pipes, tanks, household goods like garden furniture, flower pots, heat resistant clothing for foundry workers & firemen, automotive parts, battery cases, electrical insulation, heaters, ovens, toasters, hairdryers and polyvinyl chloride floor tiles.
Australia has one of the largest proven reserves of asbestos in the world. More than 75% of all asbestos mined in the world was used for the manufacture of asbestos-cement products. Asbestos cement sheet, roofing sections & other manufactured products used in Australia were banned in 1982, 1984, 1986 and a total ban on all asbestos use in 2003.
There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres.
Inhalation of asbestos fibres may lead to scarring of the lung tissue, a condition known as asbestosis; in severe form it causes shortness of breath and pleural plaques, malignancy of the lung, or bronchial cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare related disease which was exclusively identified with asbestos exposure, but is also known to have other origins. At the present time there are no known cures for asbestos related illness.
The period from exposure to asbestos to the onset of the disease varies between 20 to 50 years. While cases contracted before the ban on asbestos was introduced may still be diagnosed into the next century. Current Australian Safety & Compensation Council regulations are designed to reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos so long as everybody abides by them. Scientists believe that asbestos related disease will disappear altogether as a result of the safety measures being taken at present.