Asbestos, the Ghost of Christmas Past
It’s almost like we can’t escape asbestos. It’s in our homes, businesses, schools, and even our cosmetics and makeup products. And as we don our Christmas cracker hats and put up the Christmas tree, we come to realise it could also be in our Christmas decorations. Is asbestos the ghost of Christmas past?
Asbestos in Christmas Decorations
You can safely purchase Christmas decorations from retail stores and local markets, knowing they do not contain asbestos. You can even let the kids make decorations out of macaroni and cardboard, knowing full well you’ll be placing them at the back of the tree.
But before you haul out your great grandma’s prized decoration, take a moment to wonder if it’s not as innocent as it looks. At the height of its popularity, asbestos was used to manufacture and decorate thousands of Christmas decorations.
It was present in bulbs, wreaths, and even the beautiful nativity scenes with fake, frosted snow. Thanks to its fire-retardant properties, vintage Christmas tree skirts, mats, and beautiful tablecloths also featured this “miracle” material once used worldwide.
Fortunately, given the need for fire-retardant materials in Navy ships at the commencement of World War II, it became less common for it to feature in Christmas decorations. Still, the threat remains.
If you find yourself rustling through the boxes of decades-old decorations and come across any vintage pieces with white frosting, take care. There is a high chance they contain asbestos and could pose a risk to your family’s health and wellbeing.
Even Harmless-Looking Fake Snow Could Be Deadly
If you thought it was just wreaths, baubles, and bulbs that put you at risk of asbestos exposure, then think again. Fake snow, which appeared in shop windows, movie sets, and people’s homes, also contained the deadly substance. Because who wouldn’t want to dust asbestos all over their windows and Christmas tree?
Asbestos Snow Drift – Doubl-Glo Penguin
One of the most popular fake snow products was Asbestos Snow Drift, produced by Doubl-Glo Penguin. This product was advertised as being pure white snow with a mixture of asbestos and mica that offered “a beautiful blanket of snow for the tree and other decorations”.
As authentic-looking as the product was, it was only a matter of years before experts realised it was putting people at risk of deadly health conditions like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos Pure White Fire Proof Snow – National Tinsel Manufacturing Company
Asbestos pure white fire proof snow was a product manufactured by the National Tinsel Manufacturing Company from the 1940s to the 1950s. It contains the highly toxic amosite asbestos and was marketed as looking like real snow – “cleanest, whitest, best”.
But it was anything but clean. It was a significant risk factor for mesothelioma and other fatal cancer types. It was a product such as this one that was also used during the 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz’. As Dorothy and her friends are under a spell, snow falls onto them to awake them from the Wicked Witch of the West’s spell. That snow was actually an asbestos fake snow product.
White Magic Snow
Nothing spells Christmas quite like a sprinkling of asbestos under the Christmas tree. That’s precisely what White Snow Magic was advertising. This fake snow asbestos product stated that you could “sprinkle freely on and under Christmas tree for snow effect. Made from Fireproof Asbestos.”
Surprisingly, fake snow never used to be deadly. It used to feature cotton, which had minimal impact on health. However, it was a considerable fire risk, so firefighters recommended asbestos as a fire-retardant alternative.
What to Do About Asbestos-Containing Christmas Decorations
Knowledge is power. And with your newfound knowledge, you can take action. The first thing you can do is responsibly dispose of vintage Christmas decorations that may contain asbestos. Your local asbestos testing and removal company can provide information on your nearest disposal area. They may also be able to dispose of them safely for you.
It’s also a good idea to avoid storing your Christmas decorations in parts of your home that might contain asbestos, such as the ceiling, where asbestos insulation may be present.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
It can take decades for symptoms of asbestos exposure to appear. Even when they do, many of the asbestos-related illnesses present themselves as if they were a flu or a chest infection.
Though, if you have potentially been exposed to asbestos in the past, it’s crucial to see your GP with any health complications.
As soon as you notice unexpected weight loss, shortness of breath, respiratory issues, chest pain, fatigue, or a dry cough that just won’t go away, make an appointment with a medical professional. They may refer you for a CT scan or chest X-ray.
Have a Safe and Happy Christmas
Decorating your home during the festive season can get you into the Christmas mood. Why not visit your local Christmas decoration stockists and find out what new, asbestos-free decorations they have available? Your home can look as pretty as a picture while also offering much-needed peace of mind.