Asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America beginning in the late 1800s. Its use increased greatly during World War II; since then, it has been used in many industries. For example:
The building and construction industry has used asbestos for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption.
The shipbuilding industry has used it to insulate boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes.
The automotive industry uses it in vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads.
More than 5,000 products contain or have contained asbestos.
Government regulations and other actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in U.S. use of asbestos. Domestic consumption amounted to about 719,000 metric tons in 1973, but it had dropped to about 9,000 metric tons by 2002. Asbestos is currently used most frequently in gaskets and in roofing and friction products.
No comments:
Post a Comment