
Bad Dust
A History of the Asbestos Disaster
Tom White(Author)
Repeater Books (Publisher)
Published on 9. September 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-915672-92-6 (ISBN)
Description
Asbestos was once known as the "magic mineral." Cheap,
versatile, and tough, it was used in a wide range of industrial and consumer
products, from fireproofing spray on warships, to insulation panels in
high-rise towers, to tablecloths and ironing board covers. But from the dawn of
the industry in the late 1800s, it was apparent that asbestos dust was
particularly harmful to workers' lungs. Later, it became clear that even
trivial exposure can cause incurable cancers.
Bad Dust traces a history of the asbestos disaster
and shows how the material became so deeply interwoven with the functions of
the British state. The first half of the book examines the mining of the
mineral in apartheid South Africa, its manufacturing in the North of England,
and its use on the shipyards and building sites of Glasgow. The second half of
the book then explores the development of a coherent anti-asbestos movement from
the late 1970s. Arrayed against a powerful industry, and against parts of the
trade union movement, anti-asbestos groups fought for a ban on the material.
Asbestos was used extensively in schools,
hospitals, and housing built in the post-war period. The banning of the
material twenty-five years ago was not accompanied by a coordinated removal programme-much
of it remains in place, slowing degrading and placing us all at risk. Far from
a problem solved, Bad Dust shows that the asbestos disaster has really only
just begun.
versatile, and tough, it was used in a wide range of industrial and consumer
products, from fireproofing spray on warships, to insulation panels in
high-rise towers, to tablecloths and ironing board covers. But from the dawn of
the industry in the late 1800s, it was apparent that asbestos dust was
particularly harmful to workers' lungs. Later, it became clear that even
trivial exposure can cause incurable cancers.
Bad Dust traces a history of the asbestos disaster
and shows how the material became so deeply interwoven with the functions of
the British state. The first half of the book examines the mining of the
mineral in apartheid South Africa, its manufacturing in the North of England,
and its use on the shipyards and building sites of Glasgow. The second half of
the book then explores the development of a coherent anti-asbestos movement from
the late 1970s. Arrayed against a powerful industry, and against parts of the
trade union movement, anti-asbestos groups fought for a ban on the material.
Asbestos was used extensively in schools,
hospitals, and housing built in the post-war period. The banning of the
material twenty-five years ago was not accompanied by a coordinated removal programme-much
of it remains in place, slowing degrading and placing us all at risk. Far from
a problem solved, Bad Dust shows that the asbestos disaster has really only
just begun.
More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Watkins Media Limited
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 208 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
295 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-915672-92-6 (9781915672926)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
09/2025
Repeater
€8.49
Available for download
Person
Tom White is a writer and further educationworker. He writes about politics, art, education, and rugby league.