Asbestos was commonly used as an insulating material in home electrical wiring in the early 20th century. At the time, the health hazards of asbestos were not fully understood. Asbestos exposure would eventually be linked to serious illnesses like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. However, in the early decades of the 1900s, asbestos was considered an ideal material for insulation in buildings and wiring.

Why Asbestos Was Used in Home Wiring

Asbestos had several properties that made it well-suited for electrical insulation:

With these advantages, asbestos insulation was used in wiring for lighting, appliances, and heating systems in many homes constructed in the early 1900s.

How Homeowners and Electricians Were Exposed

During this era, asbestos wiring posed a health risk to both homeowners doing DIY electrical work and professional electricians.

When replacing old wiring or installing new circuits, people often handled asbestos insulation without protective equipment. Cutting, stripping, and cleaning up asbestos debris released microscopic fibers into the air.

If inhaled, these tiny, needle-like fibers could become lodged in lung tissue and cause cellular damage over time. Family members could also be exposed to lingering fibers on work clothes. However, in the early 1900s, such hazards were unknown.

Understanding grew gradually, as doctors observed lung problems in people working with asbestos. By the 1930s, some safety measures were recommended, but asbestos wiring remained common in homes into the 1970s.

Deadly Impact on Health

Prolonged asbestos exposure can trigger several deadly diseases:

Mesothelioma

Lung Cancer

Asbestosis

By the late 20th century, these diseases were definitively linked to asbestos through medical research and legal evidence from workers like electricians. However, early asbestos wiring still haunts many homes today.

Ongoing Risks in Older Homes

Many homes built with asbestos wiring before the 1970s remain in use today. As this wiring ages, it poses some health risks: