Asbestos Textile Cloths & Textile Garments
Asbestos has been used extensively in the production of cloths, garments and other textiles for many centuries, as the mineral boasts superior resistance to heat, flame, acid and other corrosive elements. Asbestos is the only naturally-occurring mineral that can be spun and woven into fabric. Cloths and textiles containing asbestos could be found in almost every business, factory, residential home or theater in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
The first documented use of asbestos in the manufacturing of textile cloths and textile garments took place in Russia in the 1720s. Often coated with dyes or other additives, asbestos textiles and cloths were known to be relatively unaffected by high temperatures, flames, electrical fires and corrosive substances, making the material ideal for use in residential and commercial settings as well as in building construction where the risk of fire was a threat.
From Raw Asbestos to Asbestos Yarn
Raw asbestos can be spun into asbestos yarn which can then be woven into textile cloths and textile garments through a manufacturing process very similar to that of cotton. Asbestos fibers, especially chrysotile asbestos fibers, are naturally long, thin and flexible, making them ideal for use in cotton-like materials.
To produce asbestos yarn from raw asbestos, the asbestos rocks must first be crushed by heavy rollers in a mill, similar to the way that grains are made into flour in a stone-process flour mill. This process creates a fibrous, dirty-white color material often referred to as asbestos mineral wool.
The asbestos wool is then subjected to a winnowing process to remove rock fragments and other non-fibrous particles. The material is picked and carded using a carding machine, similar to the way that cotton is carded in a cotton mill. By picking and carding the asbestos material, the asbestos fibers are straightened out and the fibers are made to lay parallel to each other, which makes the asbestos material soft, white and delicate.
After the asbestos wool has been carded, the material is then twisted and spun into cotton-like asbestos yarn. Sometimes, the asbestos fibers are mixed with cotton fibers during the spinning process depending on the textile it for which it is being produced. Asbestos yarn has many uses and was often woven into cloth for garments or packing materials.
Uses for Asbestos Textiles
Once raw asbestos has been processed into asbestos yarn and then spun into asbestos cloth, the cloth can be woven into many fire-resistant materials. In the early 20th century, asbestos cloth was widely used in households and buildings to protect users and occupants from fire or heat.
Asbestos textiles and asbestos cloth were commonly used in the following products and materials:
- Pot holders
- Electrical cloth
- Aprons
- Ironing board covers
- Welder's blankets
- Fire draperies and curtains (for use in theaters)
- Upholstery
- Carpeting
- Metal mesh blankets
- Canvas
- Pipe coverings
- Fire-fighter's clothing
- Fire blankets
- Oven mitts
- Gloves
- Filter paper (for juices or chemicals)
- Prison cell padding
- Glassblower mitts
Many times, asbestos cloth and asbestos textiles were used to provide thermal insulation around boilers, pipes and other machinery in military vessels, planes and in factories.
Asbestos canvas was often used as fire curtains in theaters and as an insulating covering for pipes and turbines. Kaylo canvas was known to contain asbestos fibers from the 1950s until the 1980s. Other companies which may have produced asbestos-containing canvas products include H.K. Porter Canvas and J-M Asbestos Canvas.
Potential Hazards of Asbestos Textile and Asbestos Cloth
Textiles and cloth made from asbestos present a serious health hazard, both to the individuals who were directly involved with the manufacturing process and to those who used the finished asbestos cloth products. Asbestos was most commonly used in textiles from the 1800s to the mid-1900s, and heat-resistant cloths made prior to the 1980s typically contained asbestos fibers.
According to numerous medical studies over the years, exposure to chrysotile fibers and other types of asbestos used in the manufacturing of textiles is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. When tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air in textile mills where asbestos cloth is produced, the fibers can be inhaled and ingested and cause serious damage and possible malignancies with long-term exposure. The health risk associated with asbestos textiles is estimated to be even greater than the risk in other industries such as asbestos mining, as the asbestos fibers are released into the air in greater amounts during the textile manufacturing process.
Asbestos-containing cloth can also pose a health hazard if the material is torn, shredded, sanded, damaged or heavily worn, which can cause asbestos fibers to break away and become airborne. When exposed to very high temperatures, asbestos has a tendency to transform into a powder, which is especially dangerous if disturbed or inhaled.
Who May be Affected by Asbestos Textiles and Cloths
Individuals who may have been affected by asbestos exposure from asbestos textiles can be divided into the following categories:
- People who worked in asbestos textile mills prior to the 1980s or were exposed to textile mills
- People who used or wore asbestos textiles and cloth made prior to the 1980s
Individuals who were exposed to asbestos textiles for prolonged periods of time, such as those who worked in textile factories for more than five to ten years, are thought to be at highest risk for health complications related to asbestos exposure, as the asbestos fibers can build up in the lungs.
Textile-related occupations that are considered high-risk for asbestos exposure include:
- Ship builders
- U.S. Navy personnel
- Loom fixers
- Fire fighters
- Electrical engineers
- Pipe fitters
- Textile operatives
- Textile mill workers (including weavers, spinners, sewers, baggers, etc.)
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
