Tinsmith

Tinsmiths are those who work on tin and other raw materials and convert them into objects of daily use. Tin has been used extensively in the construction industry, as it is rust-proof and strong enough to withstand wear and tear in spite of regular use. It can also be combined with other metals like copper to form an even stronger alloy, bronze.

Combining Asbestos with Tin

Tin was often insulated with asbestos before being used as component in electrical appliances. In the construction industry, tin was used in pipes and electrical fittings. Tinsmiths were responsible for combining tin with other metals for strength and asbestos for insulation.

Exposure to Asbestos

Tinsmiths were mostly exposed to asbestos while applying it as insulation to a pipe or electrical appliance. The process of separating asbestos fibers, then cutting and applying it, diffuses asbestos particles, which are then inhaled by the tinsmiths. Asbestos is the only natural mineral with fibers that can be woven into cloth. This feature, along with being a good insulator, made it a popular component of protective gear worn by tinsmiths while working with flames during the heating process. A minor tear in the protective gear was sufficient for releasing asbestos dust into the environment. Tinsmiths were thus both directly and indirectly affected by asbestos in their working environment.

Dangers at Work

It is widely accepted that some occupations are riskier than others. Still, in modern society, we have come to expect that job-related dangers will be minimized, risks will be clearly explained, and employers will make every effort to create a safe work environment. In terms of exposure to asbestos, however, this was not always the case, and even in recent history workers were liable to find themselves in situations that placed their lives at risk.

Kinds of Asbestos and Their Effects on Human Health

There are two major categories of asbestos. The most commonly used was chrysotile (sometimes called "white" asbestos), or serpentine asbestos. Not normally linked to asbestos cancer or mesothelioma, it is a relatively pliable form of the mineral. Abrasions on the inner surfaces of the lungs can result when chrysotile fibers are breathed in, however. This in turn causes an accumulation of scar tissue that can then be a major factor in the development of asbestosis.

The other category is known as the amphibole group and is much more dangerous. Mesothelioma, an unusual and often deadly disease affecting the mesothelium (the lining between the lungs and the pleural cavity), is strongly linked with inhaling asbestos, especially the amphibole forms. Less common types of mesothelioma include pericardial and peritoneal mesothelioma, which are also caused by extensive contact with amphibole asbestos.

Why It Was Used

Ironically, asbestos was utilized when constructing plants and factories and in manufacturing numerous items due to its ability to save lives. Serpentine asbestos is one of the best insulators known when it comes to fire and heat and has been used for this purpose for centuries. In addition, the amphibole varieties possessed other useful qualities. For instance, amosite, sometimes called "brown" asbestos, is high in iron content, making it impervious to chemical corrosion. "Blue" asbestos, or crocidolite, was generally utilized near electrical equipment since it is highly resistant to electrical current. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that protected lives and property against fire, extreme temperatures, electrocution and chemical burns could be formed by combining different types of fibers.

Asbestos did not present a health hazard as long as it stayed solid. However, when ACMs got older, they became friable, or able to be reduced to powder by hand pressure alone. When they are friable, asbestos fibers are easily dispersed in the atmosphere, where they can cause diseases after they are drunk or inhaled. Unless effective decontamination protocols, like using on-site showers, were enforced, it was all too easy for employees to bring home particles of asbestos on their skin, in their hair, or on their clothing and in doing so exposing family members to danger.

The Lurking Danger of Asbestos

As opposed to most work-related injuries, which are readily observed and known about immediately following the incident, asbestos-related illnesses may take many, many years to manifest. When a former employee begins showing symptoms such as a persistent cough, difficulty breathing and pain in the chest, his or her doctor might not at first identify asbestos exposure as the culprit, leading to a delay in diagnosis. New ways to combat mesothelioma, including mesothelioma radiation, are being discovered, and early detection gives the patient and his or her doctor the best chance of overcoming the infamously low mesothelioma survival rate. So, it is very important for men and women that worked as tinsmiths, as well as anyone who lived with them, to notify their physicians about the possibility of asbestos exposure.

Sources

Bowker, Michael. Fatal Deception: The Untold Story of Asbestos (New York: Touchstone, 2003)

EnvironmentalChemistry.com - A Brief History of Asbestos Use and Associated Health Risks
http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/environmental/asbestoshistory2004.htm

Jefferson Lab - It's Elemental, Tin, Sn
http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele050.html

University of Wisconsin - Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) - Laboratories and Shops
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/ASB/acmimages3.html

University of Wisconsin - Asbestos Disposal
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/HAZEXCEPTIONS/a.html