1950 Minerals Survey: Amosite Fibers take Flight
I love to learn.
For this project, I was reviewing the 1950 Minerals Survey on asbestos created by the Department of the Interior for the National Security Resources Board. This publication is available on the Hathi Digital Trust and includes a substantial global discussion on asbestos, focusing on each country and many of the products. It is a worthwhile read for anyone dealing with exposures in the 1950s era.
The statement that surprised me, although maybe it shouldn’t have, is that amosite was the preferred asbestos fiber for airplanes during that era because it was lightweight insulation. I knew that it was preferred for military ships (actually, the military specifications for ships had a mix of asbestos fiber types), but not for airplanes.
Did anyone else out there remember this use for amosite? Just wondering. Let me know if you have a comment either by leaving a comment or by email to TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks. Marty
One Response
Unbelievable that being known as a killer yet being allowed to kill. In a fire in libby by the mine site due to 530 million fibers in a gram of bark..the fire was to be fought without ground troops..fire fighters due to haveing to suit up in hazmat gear to do so. Fought by air..helicopters which due to so much asbestos in the smoke the air filters on helicopters clogged up. I’m sure the exposure to the pilots existed too. Of course the fibers traveled with the smoke..for miles.