Magic Mineral to Killer Dust

Asbestos was once known as the ‘magic mineral’ because of its ability to withstand flames. Yet since the 1970s, it has become a notorious and feared ‘killer dust’ that is responsible for thousands of deaths and an epidemic that continues into the new millennium. This book gives an account of the UK asbestos health problem, providing an in-depth look at the occupational health experience of one of the world's leading asbestos companies — British asbestos giant, Turner & Newall. Based on a company archive recently released in American litigation, it gives an insight into all aspects of the asbestos hazard — dust control, workmen's compensation, government regulation, and the development of medical knowledge. In particular, the book looks at the role of industrialists, doctors, factory inspectors, and trade unionists, highlighting the failures in regulation that allowed the commercial development of a material that has been known to be lethal since at least 1900.