From: dannyb@panix.com   
      
   In  hanco   
   k4@bbs.cpcn.com writes:   
      
      
   >The kicker is that back in the 1930s, asbestos was seen as the 'magic miner=   
   >al' as it was so useful for so many things.  It provided excellent fire saf=   
   >ety, a big deal in those days.  It also provided heat and sound insulation.=   
   >  They had a big exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair.   
      
   >FWIW, I asked an engineer if modern substitutes offer as much protection.  =   
   >She said no.   
      
   This gets a bit touchy... but that's absolutely true. Asbestos   
   in micro airborne fibers is... BAD. (Differnet types of the   
   material, but we don't need to fo there).   
      
   The problem is that asbestos hysteria has destroyed the   
   entire legit and useful uses for it, including one very   
   big one, namely asbstos-cement as fireprrofing over   
   steel girders.   
      
   (spraying it on was BAD NEWS. but applying it as a wet   
   concrets mix... was and is fine. Ain't a single proven,   
   or even reasonably close, case of mesothelioma from   
   that type of use).   
      
   This led to... the stopping of asbestos enhanced insulation   
   after about 1/2 the WTC towers were covered, and a bunch   
   of years later, stripping it off and replacing it with   
   less effective stuff. As we found out on 9/11.   
      
      
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   		     dannyb@panix.com   
   [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)