Asbestos has had some very interesting uses since its discovery thousands of years ago. This cancer-causing mineral is currently banned in well over 60 countries, but it has yet to be completely banned in the U.S. Asbestos has had some very strange uses over the years. In the past, these are just a few of the ways asbestos was used:
- Ancient Greeks spun asbestos into cloth to be used to make tablecloths and blankets because of its durability.
- Because asbestos fibers are fire-resistant, ancient Greeks also used asbestos when making oil lamp wicks.
- Many years ago, asbestos could be found in hot pads that were used in the production of food.
- Back in the early 1900s, asbestos was used as fake snow in numerous old movies. For example, the snow that fell in the poppy fields in "The Wizard of Oz" was actually asbestos.
Currently, traces of asbestos can still be found in products we use today. Some of the products that can still be contaminated with asbestos are:
- Makeup products. Some powdered makeup can contain certain levels of asbestos due to the cross-contamination of talcum powder, which is often used in powdered makeup.
- Construction materials due to the natural contamination of vermiculite, limestone and talc
- Car parts
In March 2024, EPA finalized the risk management rule for chrysotile asbestos. The rule prohibits ongoing uses of the only known form of asbestos currently imported, processed and distributed in the U.S.
