Asbestos Textiles: A Historical Overview
Posted on: September 30, 2024Asbestos textiles, also known by other names such as asbestos blankets, cloth, clothing, fabric, and garments, have a long history of use dating back to the 1880s. These materials were widely manufactured and used in various industries until the 1980s. Factories, Navy ships, oil refineries, power plants, shipyards, steel mills, and textile factories commonly utilized asbestos textiles due to their fire-resistant and insulating properties.
Despite their widespread use, asbestos textiles were used until the 1980s, leading to prolonged exposure risks. Several notable brands were known for producing asbestos textiles, including Johns-Manville, Garlock Sealing Technologies, Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., and Uniroyal Holding, Inc. These companies played significant roles in the manufacturing and distribution of asbestos-containing products, contributing to the material’s pervasive presence in industrial settings.