Is it safe to polish Bakelite?
(Does the Bakelite used in telephones contain asbestos?)
This question is often asked by people wanting to refurbish their Bakelite telephones who are concerned about the toxic (carcinogenic) effects of asbestos particles in the lungs.
It is highly unlikely that asbestos was used as a fill in Bakelite telephones. Asbestos was used as a fill in Bakelite that was, for example, exposed to high temperatures. Telephones though, needed to be highly polished and cellulose (wood flour) was much more suitable in this application.
Here is a film about Bakelite:
At about 9:00 minutes, WE E-type handsets are being moulded and then an AE Type 34 telephone is shown. The narrator says the fill for the handsets is cellulose. He also mentions other fillers including asbestos being used for other purposes. It is not possible to say that asbestos was not used in any Bakelite telephones either here or elsewhere. To be safe, precautions should always be taken when dry sanding or drilling Bakelite and other materials because, irrespective of the fill, the dust generated is a health hazard.
From the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
[Edited]:
“Particulate matter,” also known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. The EPA is concerned about particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller because those are the particles that generally pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects.
