It was in the 1960s that the connection between mesothelioma and asbestos was established. Asbestos is a naturally occurring product that has been put to use widely in ship building industries and cement manufacturing units. Millions of people all over the world are involved in its extraction, processing and industrial activities. Though its use increased steadily in the 1940s, no one suspected any side effects and no precautions were taken to protect the employees from inhaling or ingesting the fibers floating in the air.

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring silicon based minerals which have been exploited over time for their various valuable characteristics. The material is made up of thin fibrous crystals which are immune to heat, chemicals and have immense tensile strength and flexibility. The material, by nature, is hazardous as inhalation of the fibres can cause serious health problems such as lung cancer, Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.

The use of asbestos was first documented by the ancient Greeks; they acknowledged the valuable properties of the substance whilst also being moderately conscious of the hazards. The Greek geographer Strabo noted the remarkable chronic lung damage of slaves who worked with the material, mining it and weaving it into cloth.

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