New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Tom White, "Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster" (Repeater, 2025)
Nov 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Tom White, an author known for his work on social and environmental history, dives deep into the tragic legacy of asbestos. He explores its dangerous properties and the devastating health effects, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, linking these to historical mining practices in apartheid South Africa. White highlights Britain's widespread use of asbestos in postwar construction and outlines the struggles of activists fighting against industry giants. He emphasizes the urgent need for a phased removal plan to safeguard public health.
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Personal Family Loss From Asbestos
- Tom White's grandfather worked as a carpenter and inhaled asbestos during his apprenticeship in the 1950s.
- He was diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer in 1994 and died within months, which motivated White's interest in the topic.
Asbestos Is Naturally Fibrous And Persistent
- Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals with fibrous, fabric-like strands that can be peeled apart.
- Those same fibrous properties make asbestos both useful (insulation) and uniquely dangerous when inhaled because fibers persist in lungs.
Industrial Demand Drove Global Asbestos Mining
- The modern asbestos industry scaled with the industrial revolution and steam engines in the 19th century.
- Major deposits in Quebec, South Africa, and the Urals enabled cheap, large-scale mining and global supply.
