Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been mined throughout the world for thousands of years, particularly in Russia, China, and Canada. From the 1930’s up until the 1970’s, the use of asbestos peaked in the United States and found its way into every facet of our society. Governmental agencies, industrial corporations, and even homeowners in that time were potentially exposed to asbestos and it is likely that people are still being exposed in certain environments today. Below are a few facts regarding asbestos and its affects:
Asbestos, a silicate mineral, is still being mined today in several countries. In 2009, Russia was the worlds leading producer, followed by China. Canada was once one of the worlds leaders, but in 2012 the last remaining mines in production where shut down.
Over 3,000 commercial products, from toasters to hair dryers, included some asbestos. Some of those products may still be around and in use.
Over half of the work related, cancer cases in the United States are due to asbestos exposure.
People who were exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop other forms of lung cancer
