History of asbestos use by the military

History of asbestos use by the military
asbestos by militaryFor centuries, people have used asbestos in different ways. Since the industrial revolution changed the industry also changed the use of asbestos. In 1800 there was a significant increase in U.S. use of asbestos through a multitude of products. Since asbestos is a effective insulator was used as fire agent. Use of this toxic mineral was so common that the U.S. military ordered its use in vehicles and transportation.

Branches of Service
The military began using asbestos products in ships during the Second World War. From 1930 to 1970 in U.S. military tons of coal used in all types of construction, maintenance and repair, transportation such as ships, tanks, helicopters and airplanes. Both the navy and army air asbestos used in electrical insulation, brakes and clutches of vehicles. The houses and other military buildings were continuously equipped with asbestos is contained in products ranging from insulation to the plumbing.

Asbestos on ships
The Navy, Marines and Coast Guard used still more uses for asbestos Marine developed more than 300 products containing asbestos to be used not only in boats but in the shipyards, and ordered its use in new vessels from 1939 .

In the same year, paradoxically general clinical navy began publishing information on the negative effect that exposure to asbestos was in the body. In a report on the conditions of the Brooklyn shipyards, it was reported that prolonged exposure to asbestos not only caused asbestosis, a respiratory disease, but could lead to aggressive cancer mesothelioma. Despite this knowledge the military continuing to use asbestos.

In 1970 the U.S. military began to stop using products containing asbestos because the public was becoming more aware of the negative effects of this mineral. During 1980 the use of asbestos was moderating and gradually descending. Many people think that in USA asbestos was banned in 1989 by the Environmental Protection Agency, but the Court of Appeal ruled in 1991 against this ban so its use is still legal in certain products.

References: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs