it was thought to have been first reported that asbestos may be dangerous in 1898.
it was thought to have been first reported that asbestos may be dangerous in 1898.
when was it thought to have been first reported that asbestos may be dangerous?
1898
the manufacture of asbestos products began on the site in 1879, and by 1970 the factory had an annual output of 2,250,000 yards of asbestos cloth and of asbestos yarn. the dangerous nature of asbestos fibres had first been suspected in 1898, when factory inspector lucy deane reported: "the evil effects of asbestos dust have also instigated a microscopic examination of the mineral dust by hm medical inspector [thomas legge]. clearly revealed was the sharp glass-like jagged nature of the particles, and where they are allowed to rise and to remain suspended in the air of the room in any quantity, the effects have been found to be injurious as might have been expected." in 1924 a 33-year-old turner's employee, nellie kershaw, became the first officially recognised victim of asbestosis but the firm refused to accept responsibility for her death, saying it would "create a precedent". her family received no compensation, and she was buried in a pauper's grave in rochdale.
spodden valley asbestos controversy
asbestos was banned in south africa in 2008. prior to this, the country was one of the global leaders in asbestos production, and consequently had one of the highest rates of mesothelioma. regulations to ban asbestos in south africa occurred in march 2008 under the leadership of environmental affairs and tourism minister marthinus van schalkwyk. the first draft regulations were announced in november 2005 for public comment and again in september 2007. the regulations prohibited the use, processing, manufacturing, and import and export of any asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (acms). a grace period of 120 days was allowed to give people or traders currently dealing in asbestos or acms to clear their stock. exemptions would be granted under strict control. the regulations did not prohibit the continued use of asbestos-containing materials that were already in place such as asbestos-cement roof sheets or ceilings, the department was satisfied that there was “no undue risk” and they would be replaced in due time. penalties for the continued use of asbestos include a fine which would not exceed r100 000 and/or imprisonment of less than ten years. prior to the regulations' implementation, asbestos had been in the process of being phased out from as early as 2003. requests from zimbabwe and canada to be excepted from the prohibition were denied. south also terminated all import of asbestos or acms from zimbabwe. south africa would allow products to pass through its borders while in transit under strict conditions and if registered with the department of environmental affairs and tourism. everite, a building company, supported the government's ban on imports from zimbabwe it became an offence to acquire, process, package or repackage, manufacture or distribute these products from after july 28, 2008. kgalagadi relief trust (krt) chair brian gibson stated that asbestos may still be imported into south africa for research or analysis. asbestos may also be imported into the country for disposal from southern african development community (sadc) countries that were unable to dispose of the waste themselves.
asbestos and the law