Asbestos in Fake Snow
Concerned that fake snow made from asbestos could cause asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma? Learn more below.
Fake snow was once made from asbestos
Did companies really once make fake snow from 100% industrial grade asbestos? It’s true – from the 1920s until the early 1940s, fake snow made from asbestos was sold under various name brands – “White Magic,” “Snow Drift,” and “Pure White.”
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Despite the increasingly widespread knowledge about the dangers of asbestos within the asbestos industry, the companies still marketed fluffy holiday snow decorations made from 100% chrysotile asbestos. Chrysotile, with its soft and fluffy fibers, did indeed look like soft and fluffy snow (see for yourself – asbestos fake snow makes an appearance in the famous “Poppies” scene in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz).
Asbestos mixed with mica was a logical, even smart choice for fake snow at the time (which merchants were demanding to boost their holiday display and revenues). Earlier “snow” was made from crushed glass (sharp), powdered ammonia (smelly), and cotton batting (flammable). Inflammable, cheap, and realistic –looking, chrysotile asbestos snow seemed like the perfect solution.
World War II and its insatiable need for asbestos for shipbuilding put an end to the use of asbestos snow, but not before exposing millions of people to deadly asbestos fibers in their homes and businesses.
How asbestos can lead to mesothelioma
Airborne asbestos fibers that reach a person’s lungs can cause serious health problems or even death in some cases. Asbestos is the only known cause of malignant mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of cancer.
Health issues related to asbestos exposure can appear many years after the exposure occurred, meaning that many people diagnosed with mesothelioma had no idea they were ever exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos exposure from common consumer products such as fake snow show that asbestos-related diseases are a real risk for everyone - from children to the workers who made the products.
Mesothelioma lawyers may be able to help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease from workplace or home exposure to asbestos, contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer immediately. Mesothelioma attorneys have helped thousands of mesothelioma patients win compensation for lost wages and medical costs.