Asbestos Textiles

Asbestos textiles are products made by spinning asbestos fibers into thread and weaving them into cloth, tape, rope, blankets, gloves, and protective clothing. Because asbestos resists heat and flame, these textiles were used for insulation, fireproofing, and personal protection in many industries. Making and using them shed fibers, exposing textile workers and end users alike.

Origin

Asbestos has been spun into cloth since ancient times, but industrial-scale asbestos textile manufacturing grew from the late 19th century, notably in mill towns, into the mid-20th century.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For patients who worked in asbestos textile mills, or who used asbestos cloth, gloves, or blankets on the job, these products are a direct exposure source. Textile manufacturing was especially dusty, from carding and spinning to weaving, and some of the earliest disease studies came from textile workers. End users such as welders, foundry workers, and firefighters handled asbestos protective gear that could shed fibers with wear. Identifying the specific textile products and workplaces involved helps connect a patient's disease to particular manufacturers and exposure settings.

Example Sentence

She developed mesothelioma decades after her years spinning asbestos thread in a New England textile mill.

Related Terms

Chrysotile, Occupational Exposure, Take-Home Exposure, Fiber Release, Asbestos Trust, Bystander Exposure

Notes

• Record any work in textile mills or any use of asbestos cloth, rope, gloves, or blankets, with dates and locations.
• Preserve employment records from mills and any product or brand information you can recover.
• Ask whether take-home exposure applies if a household member brought fiber-laden work clothing home.