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Q: Is there a schedule of dates that hazardous materials were introduced then withdrawn from construction?

A: It is not possible to create a single, comprehensive schedule of dates for all hazardous materials used and withdrawn from construction.

The history of each substance is different, with varying timelines for introduction, recognition of hazards, regulation, and eventual withdrawal. Factors such as the specific material, country, and time period all affect its use and regulation.

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Here is a timeline for some of the most prominent hazardous materials in UK construction.

Asbestos

• Late 1870s: Asbestos begins to be commercially used in the UK, primarily for insulation in ships and power plants. Its properties as a durable, fire-resistant, and cheap material led to widespread use.
• Early 1900s: Health concerns about asbestos emerge, and the first official reports of associated health risks are noted.
• 1930s: Research links asbestos exposure to lung fibrosis, which leads to the first asbestos industry regulations in 1931.
• 1955: A report published in the British Medical Journal demonstrates a link between asbestos exposure and lung cancer.
• 1985: The most hazardous types of asbestos, blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite), are banned in the UK.
• 1999: A full ban on the import and use of all types of asbestos, including white (chrysotile), is enacted in the UK.

Lead paint

• Pre-1960s: Lead-based paint, particularly white lead, is in widespread use for decorative paintwork in homes.
• 1963: After a voluntary agreement, manufacturers begin labeling paint containing more than 1% lead with warnings.
• 1970s: The amount of lead used in decorative paints is reduced, and non-lead pigments become more common.
• 1992: A full ban on the sale and use of paint containing lead carbonate and lead sulfate is implemented in the UK, though exemptions remain for historic buildings.

Formaldehyde

• Post-WWII: Urea formaldehyde (UF) foam, which can emit formaldehyde gas as it degrades, is used for cavity wall insulation.
• 1985: Building Regulations begin imposing controls on the use of UF foam in cavity walls, requiring a continuous barrier to minimize fumes.
• 1987: The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations establish occupational exposure limits for formaldehyde.
• August 2026 (EU): A new EU restriction will limit formaldehyde emissions in furniture and wood-based products.
• UK (future): The Health and Safety Executive is investigating risks to the public from formaldehyde and may introduce similar UK legislation.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

• 1930s–1970s: PCBs are used in construction for a variety of applications, including sealants, paint, and thermal insulation.
• 1981: The UK bans the manufacture and new use of PCBs.
• 1986: As part of an international agreement, the UK joins the wider ban on the production of PCBs.
• 2000s onwards: Phased removal of PCB-containing materials from buildings continues as older structures are refurbished or demolished.

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GBE Sources

I acknowledge: the following for the idea and some of the content of this Chronology.

• AJ Architects Journal
• BBA British Board of Agrément
• BBC British Broadcasting Corporation
• EHP Hadley Centre
• Estates Gazette 10 Jan 98 Environmental Liability The Muck Stops Here By Tim Smithers and Nic Seal.
• European Project for the ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA)
• Friends Provident’s Literature “Stewardship Ethical Investment, Acting on your Principles”
• Future Build 2020 Poster 31/10/2019
• Guardian Newspaper
• Mauna Loa Laboratory
• NASA
• numerous other bibliography