The Deadly History of Asbestos

Similar to lead paint, many people learned about the dangers of asbestos too late. But what is the real story behind asbestos? Where did it come from, and what makes it dangerous?
Join Hank Green for a fascinating episode of SciShow where we'll go back in time to the beginning of asbestos, and learn what has happened along the way!
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[freeloading_toad]

My family used to sell crystals at a gift shop, so I learned a lot about rocks growing up. When I would tell people that Tigers Eye is fossilized asbestos, they usually freaked out until I explained it was harmless, because all the asbestos minerals had been replaced by quartz in the process of fossilization. Like how petrified wood isn’t actual wood anymore

[DameiusLameocrates]

I was under the impression that it was poisonous like Lead, but its interesting to know that how it actually affects the body.

[mohammedhosen]

My father got diagnosed with Mesothelioma and he's now in ICU. He was a secretary - mostly working in an asbestos-isolated environment, rather then a manual worker. DO NOT MESS WITH ASBESTOS & DO NOT LISTEN TO ANYONE TELLING YOU THE OPPOSITE.
Pray for my dad please 🥺

As an update - my father passed away shortly after that post.
Please, take this matter quite seriously and manage it deliginetly. Don't listen to any sucker who tells you it is safe!

[TheZephyrsWind]

This actually killed my first dad back in the early 2000s. Really ticks you off that they knew it hurt you, and don't even give a pathetic little flu mask. I remember I was being pulled into the ocean drowning, and my dad, with half a lung missing and the rest scarred, jumped in and swam back with one hand. That was the only time I saw my dad collapse and show weakness since as soon as we got back, he broke into a coughing fit.

[mirzamay]

I thought asbestos was man made. I had no idea it came from a rock. Thanks SciShow. Love your channel.

[nicholasdishington]

I've been working in an asbestos management company for the past 4 years (Yes, FML) and this is the first time I've managed to keep my eyes open whilst someone talks about asbestos. Well done :)

[garrettbrothers]

Imagine getting a splinter.
Now imagine that you can't take that splinter out.
Now, imagine that those splinters are in your lungs,
and are made of materials that are basically toxic.
Now imagine that there are many, many splinters.

THANKS SCISHOW. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

[GeneralLee]

Works great for sound absorption, is rather fire resistant, and overall largely indestructible - hence the damage to your lungs. Just gotta wear respiratory protection when interacting with it. The real crime is the dangers were dismissed by so many for a long period of time. Same with anything potentially hazardous to health, really. Corporations pay to cover up any possible negative effects of their product, tough guys ignore safety measures once they're finally in place.

[minidwarfdude]

My teacher told us a story today about how he old school has some walls made out of asbestos. Apparently, some builders or something drilled a sign INTO THE ASBESTOS to warn students of asbestos in the corridors. The drilling disrupted the asbestos and now that corridor can't be used lol

[Flutterbyebutterfly]

My mums just been diagnosed with Mesothelioma lung cancer, she used to wash her dads clothing after his work as a joiner…I’m finding it unbelievable to take in that’s what caused it.

[jincyquones]

A few weeks after I graduated high school, I went back to my school (which had only been built in the 80s) to get something I had left with a teacher and discovered that huge sections of hallways were blocked off for asbestos insulation removal. I wasn't really surprised.

There's a lot more of it lying about than people realize. Like Hank said, it's probably harmless just sitting there like it was, but it's still not a risk that you'd want to take.

When I asked my teacher about it, she basically told me that the administration told them to not let the word get out because they were afraid of lawsuits (they'd probably known about it for awhile). That was my high school experience in a nut shell.

[tomcavness]

I'm an environmental consultant, by trade. I specialize in asbestos inspections, oversight, management and project design. I have to say that I started watching this with a bit of trepidation, since most videos about asbestos are full of nothing but scare tactics. I was quite pleasantly surprised by the accuracy and presentation. In 4:40 you just outdid almost every single "explanation" video I've ever seen on asbestos. Well done.

[LazerLord]

My school still has some asbestos ceiling tiles...

[TokiBird]

great video! I heard about asbestos in my class while we were learning about 9/11 and how the event exposed people to asbestos and smoke for months which of course caused many to have respiratory diseases.

[mclarpet]

I have fibrosis at the bottom of both lungs from working with mineral fibres including asbestos.
Thank you for remembering Nellie Kershaw.

[andrezits]

4:12
Finnish Potter and the Cancerous Stone

[spaceface]

4:12
Finnish Potter: The boy who lived, and then died of mesothelioma.

[chrisgurney]

In Canberra and the surrounding areas during the '50s & '60s there was an insulation for roofs that was readily sold and consisted of fluffy asbestos that was pumped into the ceiling... I remember as a kid (late 1980s) seeing houses wrapped in plastic as they removed the asbestos and they are still finding hot-spots today

[iambiggus]

Or when you are crawling around on a giant boiler from the 70's trying to upgrade electrical services for the apartments on the floors above it, and the superintendent walks in and causally mentions that the white dust all over the place is asbestos from the insulation. Awesome.

[AbiRose]

My father grew up in Belgium (born in 1965, you didn't mention years but I thought I would), and his father worked at a factory creating things with asbestos. My dad and his 4 brothers used to play in the "piles of white snowy stuff" at the docks. Since then, my grandfather, grandmother, and 2 uncles have died of mesothelioma. My grandmother (who died years and years after my grandfather) started a lawsuit against the company much like what the US had to say to the companies, and last year my uncles and dad won the suit in her name! Which is a super big win the judicial system in the EU, as not many civilians have won cases like theirs. It's a horrible disease, and my dad and his 2 surviving brothers now live with the fibers in their lungs, hoping to not have them create cancer. I regretted watching this video in the beginning, because of how frank you were with something that 4 of my family members have died from, but am grateful to be informed about it! Thanks Hank and Scishow :)