Asbestos mining began approximately 4,000 years ago, and for centuries it was thought that asbestos was a miracle mineral.
The naturally occurring, fibrous material is made up of silicates and has proven beneficial in a variety of applications, including construction materials. That is because asbestos is known to be fire-retardant, heat resistant, sound resistant and durable. Due to these properties, it is not uncommon to find asbestos fibres in materials like caulks and adhesives, insulation, cements, plasters and even tile flooring.
It wasn’t until the late-1800s that asbestos was found to cause health problems and legislation to control the substance’s use was not enacted until the mid-1900s in many parts of the world.
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