Nowadays, the toxicity of asbestos and the devastating effects of exposure are well-known by the majority of people. However, public awareness has not always been this high, as the carcinogenic nature of asbestos was not officially recognized until 1971. By 1978, over 11 million people would have been exposed to incredible amounts of asbestos in the workplace. The indifference of asbestos manufacturers – who, despite knowing how dangerous this mineral was, refused to cease its use out of mere convenience – is the main culprit behind the 15,000 deaths exposure is annually responsible for.

Infographic source: elglaw