100 Years Later, Asbestos Still in Use

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January 26, 2008

More than a century after asbestos was first identified as a health hazard; it is still being used in consumer products according to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). The organization presented its findings at the National Press Club in November of 2007, citing many consumer products that still contain asbestos as a material component.

Asbestos has been identified as a high impact world health issue because of its direct link to mesothelioma, a lethal form of cancer that thousands of people have developed as a result of exposure to asbestos. During much of the 20th century asbestos was a primary component of hundreds of products and used prominently in the construction of new buildings. With a long latency period, mesothelioma impacted many thousands of workers after they had retired. Subsequent lawsuits have established asbestos manufacturers as liable for this and other related illnesses.

Nevertheless, the ADAO identified a number of well known consumer products that were independently tested and showed the presence of asbestos. Among the products are Planet Toys’ “CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit”, DAP “33” window glazing, DAP “Crack Shot” spackling paste, Gardner Leak Stopper roof patch, and Scotch High Performance Duct Tape.

Sean Fitzgerald, President of the participating testing lab Scientific Analytical Institute commented that “I can definitively say that asbestos has been found and confirmed present in many different products…In light of the substantial findings of this limited product survey, I believe that a more comprehensive program of product testing for asbestos in common household products is of utmost import.”

From the consumer standpoint, a world without duct tape would be a world deprived of one of society’s most versatile do-it-yourself products – for repairs, for school projects, and for elaborate pranks and assorted acts of mischief.

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