Asbestos started becoming widely used in the mid-1800s during the industrial revolution. Its use multiplied even further during World War II for an increasing number of different purposes, including a variety of commercial products, such as textiles, insulation, flooring, shingles and cement.
A particular heavy user of asbestos was, in fact, the US government — specifically the US military. United States military institutions heavily incorporated the use of asbestos products, especially the US Navy, which had used them aboard nearly all of their battleships. During World War II, …