Have you ever noticed how the fireman, police officer, movie star, and music producer are the life of any party? Everyone wants to know what they do, any scary or funny stories they have, and what their career is all about. No one ever wants to know what asbestos technicians do every day, so they are left to awkwardly loiter in the background while the life-saving doctor gets all the limelight.

But, imagine how the tables can turn when you start pulling out mind-blowing trivia or facts about asbestos? Any asbestos expert can go from zero to hero when they start name-dropping all the celebs that have died from asbestos exposure or blurting out that there’s a town named after the illness-causing mineral.

You’ll need to wear sunscreen at your next social gathering, for that limelight will finally be on you with some mind-boggling asbestos trivia facts. 

Fact #1: Several famous people have died from It

Of course, several everyday people have also died from asbestos exposure, but that’s not going to get heads turning at a function. People want to hear about celebrities and stars they’ve seen in movies.

If you want to shuffle your way into a conversation, then start with: did you know that Steve McQueen died from asbestos exposure? You can then talk about how he was the highest-paid movie star, but how no amount of money could protect him from pleural mesothelioma caused by asbestos racing driver clothing in movies, and asbestos lagging during his time in the marines. 

You could even mention the American film and TV actor Paul Gleason, who appeared in The Breakfast Club, Die Hard, and Trading Places. Paul died from pleural mesothelioma in 2006, thought to be from working for his father on building sites as a teen. 

Fact #2: Whole towns have been affected

If you can feel the crowds starting to move towards the famous DJ in your social group, then pull them back with another fun asbestos trivia fact. Well, not fun, but interesting. Did you know that whole towns have been affected by asbestos? 

Asbestos, Quebec, used to be a mining town, so asbestos was big business. While it retains the name, its mining days are over. Asbest in Russia, however, is still a mining town. It’s home to 70,000 people, all of which fight a daily battle of removing asbestos dust from their homes and businesses. 

The asbestos crushing mill in Wittenoom, Australia, used to be a big business as well, but its dangers saw the eventual abandonment of the town, with its final residents asked to leave by 2019.

Fact #3: It has been used in many products

People at your party may not want to hear about the difference in friable and non-friable asbestos. However, their eyes certainly won’t glaze over when you tell them what everyday products contained asbestos – and still do.

Go for that ‘mic drop’ moment by asking them if they use talc powder. If they do, then tell them that asbestos has been found in talcum powder, and how frequent use of it is thought to have caused the death of a Texas mother from mesothelioma.

If it doesn’t capture their attention, it will at least cause them to rethink their product choices, for asbestos has also been found in cigarettes, cosmetic products, car parts, school supplies, and potting soil.

Fact #4: People have been looking for ways to dispose of it properly

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral, and it’s easy enough to ignore when it’s in the ground in its raw form. But when you mix it with a building product, then remove it from a structure, there are a few question marks over what to do with it next. Do you put it back in the ground?

That’s the million-dollar question. Did you know that a new environmental research centre has been launched by Unitec, with one project focusing on asbestos? The goal will be to examine asbestos-contaminated waste, how to degrade the fibres, and how to remove their cancer-causing elements. Fun fact, Chemcare was the first private sector company to partner on the project.

Fact #5: People have been trying to remove it by themselves (but they really shouldn’t)

Be the life of any party by offering this bombshell to your party guests: people have been trying to remove asbestos by themselves, but they shouldn’t.

We’re a nation of DIYers, so it makes sense to try and tackle almost anything on our own. However, with some pretty strict guidelines in place, asbestos is one thing that you should leave in the capable hands of an expert. And it’s not just a recommendation; it’s actually a legal guideline under the Health and Safety at Work Asbestos Regulations 2016.

If you hear a couple of people talking about home renovations, slink on into the conversation and offer a quick reminder that, unless they are working with non-friable asbestos under 10 square metres, they should be calling in the removalists.

The life of any party

Okay, so you’re not a police officer who has a crazy story about saving a family from a man with an axe. You’re also not a fireman who pulled a puppy from a burning house. But there’s no reason an asbestos technician can’t have a few party-ready facts up their sleeve for when the situation arises. Start with these five above, or come up with some of your own!