Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Chrysotile, the most common form of the mineral, is as soft and flexible as cotton yet has an extremely high tensile strength and is fire resistant. The unique qualities and vast availability of asbestos has made it a tremendously popular material for a number of cultures throughout history.

Evidence of asbestos use in pottery and building materials dates back more than 3,000 years. The Ancient Egyptians used asbestos to improve durability in their clothing and to embalm pharaohs, while the people of Ancient Persia imported the mineral from modern day India for wrapping their dead.

The Ancient Greeks began to utilize asbestos about 2,000 years ago and coined the term “asbestos”- literally translating a- “not”; sbestos “extinguishable.” The Greeks were amazed by the material and seemingly magical flame-resistant properties. The Greeks used asbestos for the wicks of the eternal flames of the vestal virgins and the funeral dress for the cremation of kings. The name chrysotile is derived from the Greek words “chrysos” for gold and “tilos” for fiber. The Greeks were also the first to realize the detrimental effects of asbestos. The Greek geographer Strabo noted that many of the slaves who asbestos containing clothing suffered from sickness in their lungs.

The Ancient Romans were also not strangers to asbestos. They used asbestos in clothing and building materials. Restaurants also used asbestos for tablecloths and napkins. The flame resistant properties of asbestos allowed restaurant workers to simply throw the fabrics into the fire to eliminate food and then place it back on the table for the nest customer.

Use of asbestos declined during the Middle Ages; however was still used as insulation for suits of armor. During this time asbestos was also used in the production of asbestos crosses. Asbestos crosses were small crosses made of brown asbestos, which resembles old wood, and claimed to be made from the cross that Jesus Christ was crucified on. Scheming salesmen would provide evidence of this by demonstrating the ability of what appeared to be wood to unscathed by fire.

Asbestos regained its popularity by the time of the Industrial Revolution. As steam engines and other new innovations became more popular the use of asbestos skyrocketed. Asbestos became the commonplace insulator for steam pipes, boilers, ovens and other high-tempurature products.

By 1940’s and the onset of WWII asbestos use had reached its heyday, and was being used in a number of different industries. Asbestos was being used in clutch and brake parts in the automobile industry and to insulate high-tempurature parts of almost every naval ship that rolled off the lines. The construction industry was using asbestos in the production of ceiling and floor tiles, and many different types of cement products.

During this time most home and buildings that were built used asbestos in some form. It is estimated that over 30 million tons of asbestos have been used over the last century in the United States alone.

As the popularity of asbestos grew in the industrial arena, the material began to make its way into household items as well. At its peak asbestos was being used in hairdryers, ironing boards, and even being woven into some fabrics.

The first documented case of asbestos –related illness occurred just before the turn of the 20th century in 1897. Since this time an increasing number of researchers and medical professionals have provided irrefutable evidence that exposure to asbestos and asbestos dust can lead to extensive health problems later in life.

After it was revealed that asbestos is undeniably a health hazard in the 1970s, its use has sharply declined. Asbestos use is now strictly regulated in the United States and has been banned completely in many countries throughout the world.