Although asbestos was once considered a miracle mineral, today even the word itself has ominous implications for all strata of our society. Incorporated in the past into over 3,000 different industrial and consumer products, as well as in building materials and military equipment, opportunities for exposure continue to be ever present in our environment. Thousands of workers and servicemen in a wide variety of trades have been disabled or have died consequent to the health effects of asbestos, and many more can be expected to be affected in years to come. Litigation continues, and financial aw ... More

Although asbestos was once considered a miracle mineral, today even the word itself has ominous implications for all strata of our society. Incorporated in the past into over 3,000 different industrial and consumer products, as well as in building materials and military equipment, opportunities for exposure continue to be ever present in our environment. Thousands of workers and servicemen in a wide variety of trades have been disabled or have died consequent to the health effects of asbestos, and many more can be expected to be affected in years to come. Litigation continues, and financial awards have bankrupted many Fortune 500 companies and numerous smaller companies. While one might implicate our forefathers in this widespread, relentless medical catastrophe, only in recent decades has science appreciated the complexities of the problem and the long disease latencies. The characteristics and discovery of the unique fibrous minerals known as asbestos are considered in this book. A discussion of the major uses of these materials in the past follows. The epidemiology of the diseases asbestos cause and the risk associated with exposure are then discussed. Individual asbestos-associated diseases are considered in detail from clinical, pathologic, and pathogenic perspectives in the context of approaches to diagnosis and treatment. The authors also explore the history of regulatory efforts based on governmental actions, and the complex story of litigation related to asbestos-associated diseases. Finally, projections for the future worldwide occurrence of asbestos-related diseases are calculated.