Asbestos is a term for a group of six naturally occurring silicate minerals, defined by their fibrous structure and resistance to heat, fire, and chemical corrosion. These minerals, which include chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite, are found globally. Since asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, no single individual is credited with its initial “discovery.” Its history is instead a long process of recognizing its unique properties, exploiting them commercially, and eventually uncovering its devastating health hazards.
Early Recognition and Application
The application of asbestos fibers dates back thousands of years across numerous ancient civilizations. Archaeological evidence from Finland suggests asbestos was used 4500 years ago to strengthen clay pots, making them resistant to fire and heat. Egyptians also utilized the mineral between 2000 and 3000 BC, wrapping the bodies of pharaohs in asbestos cloth as burial shrouds.
Ancient Greeks and Romans were fascinated by the material’s “indestructible” nature; the word “asbestos” derives from a Greek term meaning “unquenchable.” They wove the fibers into textiles like napkins, tablecloths, and cremation shrouds, demonstrating their ability to be cleaned by fire. Roman historian Pliny the Elder wrote about this “live linen,” noting its use for funerary purposes.
While the material’s physical properties were prized, the health risks were not entirely unknown. Greek geographer Strabo documented a “sickness of the lungs” among slaves who wove asbestos into cloth. Pliny the Elder also wrote of the “disease of slaves” and described attempts to protect miners from inhaling harmful fibers using thin membranes. These early accounts demonstrate an awareness of the material’s dual nature: its utility and its human cost.
The Figures Behind Industrial Adoption
The widespread commercial adoption of asbestos began in the mid-19th century, transforming the mineral from a historical curiosity into a mass-produced industrial commodity. As the Industrial Revolution demanded materials that could withstand high temperatures and electrical currents, asbestos became the perfect solution for insulation and fireproofing. This era saw the rise of companies who spearheaded the industrial exploitation of the mineral.
Industrial-scale mining began in the late 1870s, responding directly to manufacturing demand. The first commercial asbestos mine opened in Quebec, Canada, in 1874, followed by mechanized mining in 1878. Early attempts at producing asbestos paper and cloth started in Italy in the 1850s, and German industrialist Louis Wertheim manufactured asbestos yarn.
The Johns Company began mining fibrous anthophyllite in Staten Island, New York, in 1858, for use as insulation. By the early 20th century, the material was indispensable, integrated into the infrastructure of modern life and added to thousands of products, including construction materials, automotive parts, and household items, due to its cheap cost, durability, and effectiveness as an insulator.
The Tragic Discovery of Toxicity
The scientific discovery of asbestos’s dangers occurred in the early 20th century, confirming ancient observations through medical evidence. In 1900, Dr. Hubert Montague Murray in London reported lung disease in an asbestos textile worker, marking one of the earliest modern medical recognitions of the hazard. The first documented death attributed to the industry was in 1906, and researchers began to notice a high number of early deaths and pulmonary problems.
A pivotal moment came in 1924 when Dr. W. E. Cooke, a pathologist in Britain, published the first case report of asbestosis. This report detailed the death of Nellie Kershaw, a 33-year-old woman who had worked in an asbestos textile factory. Cooke performed the autopsy, identifying the extensive lung scarring, and later coined the term “asbestosis” in 1927.
An official inquiry was launched by the British factory inspectorate, led by medical inspector Edward Merewether. His 1929 report found that occupational exposure to asbestos dust was a “definite occupational risk” and concluded it was the cause of a preventable, fatal disease. This paved the way for the first asbestos industry regulations in Britain in 1931. Decades later, Dr. Irving Selikoff’s landmark studies in the 1960s cemented the link between asbestos exposure and lung cancer and mesothelioma, leading to stricter regulatory action globally.