It's that time of year when even the most stalwart begin taking down the holiday decorations. One of the nice things about those decorations is the family history, some being passed on from generation to generation. A couple weeks ago, the Telegraph published an interesting warning about those older decorations, specifically the ones dating to the 1940s. The fake snow used in making the decorations appear snow clad could contain asbestos, which in turn is linked to mesothelioma. Any antique decoration could be impacted, like fake wreaths dusted with white frosting material.
Before the second world war, the white powder used to emulate snow and frost on the decorations contained asbestos. During the 1930s even film actors may have been exposed during the filming of scenes in which artificial snow was used. The snow was manufactured under the brand names Pure White, White Magic, and Snow Drift. During the war, manufactures of the fake snow shifted their production to make insulation for ships and aircraft and the use of the material for consumer products dwindled. The holiday decorations made with any of the older snow could still exist, especially considering the sentimental value usually attached to ornaments. According to the UK Asbestos Training Association, anyone in contact with the fake snow material from that period, was inhaling asbestos fibers in a quantity typically associated with asbestos miners.
It is recommended to properly dispose of any antique holiday decoration that has fake snow. Although the older decorations may look nicer and have some sentimental family, the risk of exposure is too great. This is particularly important if the holiday decorations are stored in an older home that may have asbestos in the attic. The asbestos dust could settled on the decorations and get disturbed when taken out for the annual use, making all decorations a potential source of exposure. Asbestos exposure no matter the source is a serious danger and looking through the decorations as they are packed away can ensure that offending decorations are not reused over the years.
