It was very topical when I grew up. Manly because there was a very poorly run mine in my country which turned out to be probably our worst industrial disaster.

It was very topical when I grew up. Manly because there was a very poorly run mine in my country which turned out to be probably our worst industrial disaster. There were a lot of victims claiming compensation and it entered into popular culture through music such as Midnight Oil's "Blue Sky Mining Company" and books. http://www.asbestosdiseases.org.au/the-wittenoom-tragedy.html http://www.asbestosdiseases.org.au/the-wittenoom-tragedy.htm... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3LDoI7H1Gc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3LDoI7H1Gc The dangers of asbestos had been known for some time but it took a long time for public health to catch up and like tobacco and leaded fuel, the industry worked hard to deny the problem. I expect the risks from occupational exposure have dropped a lot with replacement products and special handling and safety gear. I have seen suggestions that the next wave of victims would be DIY home renovators.