History of Asbestos Use in the United States and Worldwide

Prehistoric and Ancient Origins (c. 2500 BC – 500 AD)

The story of asbestos begins not in modern industry, but in the distant past. Archaeological findings from regions including Scandinavia, China, Finland, and Central Asia indicate that humans were aware of asbestos’ unique fibrous properties over 4,000 years ago. In the late Neolithic period (c.2500 BC), it was used as a binding agent in clay pottery. The fibers, when mixed into ceramic paste, made vessels stronger and more thermally stable — especially valuable for cooking.

As knowledge of the material spread, its use diversified. In ancient Egypt, asbestos was believed to have purifying properties and was used in burial cloths and embalming wraps. In Greece, lamp wicks made from asbestos burned cleanly and did not char, and the mineral was used in garments intended to resist flame. The Greeks were also the first to give the mineral a name — asbestos, meaning “inextinguishable.” Meanwhile, the Romans adopted asbestos into table linens, wall coverings, and armor padding. To clean an asbestos cloth, the Romans would toss it into fire, where it would emerge unburned but white and clean of dirt.

Roman naturalists like Pliny the Elder and physicians of the time also noted that slaves who worked with asbestos suffered from severe lung problems. Although they lacked modern medical understanding, this marks the first known documentation of the material’s health hazards.

Medieval and Early Renaissance Use (500 – 1500 AD)

The use of asbestos persisted into the Middle Ages, though it remained rare and mostly symbolic or ceremonial. Wealthy aristocrats and religious institutions were among the few groups that could afford it. It was woven into royal garments, used in sacred scrolls, and incorporated into armor linings during the Crusades. Notably, Charlemagne, ruler of the Frankish Empire, is said to have used asbestos tablecloths to impress guests by cleaning them with fire.

In the East, Chinese and Indian civilizations continued to extract and use asbestos for medicinal, spiritual, and utilitarian purposes. Marco Polo, during his travels in Asia in the 13th century, observed asbestos mining and use in Central Asia. He correctly identified that the fibers came from rock, not from an animal source (as many Europeans believed at the time).

However, widespread use of asbestos declined toward the end of this period, partly due to limited supply, high cost, and lack of advanced tools for mining and processing.

The Industrial Awakening (1700 – 1900)

The rebirth of asbestos as an industrial material began in the early 18th century. As steam engines, furnaces, and metalworks developed across Europe and North America, the need for durable heat-resistant insulation grew rapidly. Asbestos was found to be ideal for these applications. It could be woven into fabric, molded into shapes, and applied as a spray — and it resisted fire, heat, electricity, and chemicals.

In the United States, asbestos use began gaining traction in the early 1800s, particularly in the railroad industry. It was used to insulate piping and boilers, line fireboxes, and protect workers and passengers from burns. The marine and construction industries soon followed. Its use expanded with the rise of urban development and mechanized manufacturing.

The first commercial asbestos mine in the U.S. opened in Vermont in the late 1800s, though Canada remained the dominant supplier for North America through most of the 19th and 20th centuries. As the demand for asbestos soared, mining operations scaled up, and the mineral became increasingly affordable. U.S. manufacturers began incorporating asbestos into everything from textiles to brake pads, roofing, flooring, gaskets, and building panels.

Entrepreneurs praised asbestos as a “miracle mineral,” and by the turn of the century, it had become a staple of industrial progress.

The Golden Age — and Hidden Dangers (1900 – 1970s)

Between 1900 and 1970, asbestos use in the United States exploded. It was considered essential in nearly every major industry: construction, shipbuilding, automotive manufacturing, aerospace, steel, chemical processing, utilities, and military applications.

In residential and commercial construction, asbestos was present in a staggering range of materials: pipe insulation, cement board, floor tile, plaster, drywall joint compound, roofing shingles, ceiling panels, HVAC duct wrap, and boiler lagging, just to name a few. Builders appreciated its low cost, versatility, and fireproofing capabilities. Military use also surged during both World Wars, particularly in shipyards. Nearly every Navy ship built between 1930 and the late 1970s contained significant amounts of asbestos.

Yet as early as the 1910s and 1920s, doctors and scientists began raising concerns. The first diagnosed case of asbestosis occurred in 1924 in England, but similar occupational illnesses were documented in the U.S. around the same time. By the 1930s and 1940s, medical studies clearly linked asbestos exposure to serious health effects — including fibrosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer almost exclusively tied to asbestos.

Despite mounting evidence, industry resistance and lack of regulatory oversight allowed asbestos to remain in wide circulation. Insurance companies and manufacturers often suppressed data or failed to warn workers. Meanwhile, the demand for insulation and fire protection in high-rise buildings, public schools, and factories continued to grow.

By the 1970s, asbestos use in the United States had reached its peak. More than 3,000 different products on the market contained asbestos. It was installed in thousands of schools, hospitals, office towers, and homes — especially in public infrastructure built under federal funding programs.

Regulation, Litigation, and Partial Withdrawal (1980s – Early 2000s)

The tide finally began to turn in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began issuing rules to limit worker exposure, require labeling, and restrict use in specific products.

Some asbestos-containing materials were banned outright — including insulation, flooring felt, and spray-applied fireproofing — while others were phased out voluntarily. The EPA’s 1989 Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule aimed to prohibit nearly all asbestos-containing products, but this rule was largely overturned by a federal appeals court in 1991. As a result, asbestos remains legal in the U.S. for certain uses even today, though it is far less common than in previous decades.

Meanwhile, lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers skyrocketed. By the 1990s, asbestos litigation had become the largest mass tort in U.S. history, with hundreds of thousands of plaintiffs and billions of dollars in settlements and judgments.

Domestic mining ceased in 2002, but imports of raw asbestos—mostly from Russia—continues. The EPA has since added some restrictions on new uses, but a full federal ban has yet to be enacted.

Present Day and the Legacy of Exposure (2000 – Present)

Despite decades of reduced use, asbestos remains a serious public health concern in the United States. Each year, thousands of Americans die from diseases linked to past exposure—especially mesothelioma, which can take decades to develop. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health organizations continue to track and report asbestos-related disease data, with occupational exposures still being identified.

Millions of older buildings across the U.S. still contain asbestos. Many of these facilities—schools, hospitals, military bases, and public housing—pose a long-term management challenge. Asbestos-containing materials can remain intact and safe if undisturbed, but improper renovation or damage (e.g., from fires, storms, or demolitions) can release dangerous fibers into the air.

As a result, asbestos inspection, project design, abatement, and air monitoring services remain critical. Regulations such as the EPA’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926.1101, and various state laws (like New York’s Code Rule 56) require strict controls on asbestos disturbance. Professionals involved in remediation, building maintenance, and environmental consulting must be trained and certified to manage these risks.

The Future of Asbestos Risk Management

The legacy of asbestos will likely persist for generations. The sheer volume of asbestos-containing materials installed over the past century ensures that environmental professionals will remain in high demand for inspection, remediation, and compliance work. The industry has matured into a multibillion-dollar sector that includes not only removal and disposal but also litigation support, research, and public education.

While many nations have enacted full bans, the U.S. continues to operate under a patchwork of regulations. Advocacy groups, including labor unions, environmental organizations, and disease survivors, continue to push for a complete federal ban. Meanwhile, professionals in the field must balance historical awareness with practical risk management strategies.

As we look ahead, the role of asbestos in our industrial history serves as both a technological achievement and a cautionary tale. It underscores the importance of scientific transparency, regulatory oversight, and ethical responsibility in public health and occupational safety.