I’m in no way an expert on this, but a little Googling suggests that if the plastic map image sheets to be thermoformed were flexographic prints, there may have been asbestos in the flexographic matrix boards and rubber printing plates:

http://www.lipsitzponterio.com/jobsites-occupations-Flexographic_Printer_Asbestos_Exposure.html

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20100102476

(the raised relief map patent was cited by a flexographic plate patent)

I did visit Hubbard Scientific Co.s’ map factory back in the mid 70’s – the vacu-form machines certainly had large heating elements, the company was founded in 1961, and Irving Selikoff’s major paper on asbestos biological effects wasn’t published until 1965, so one supposes asbestos might have been used in the machinery/processes utilized for relief map production up to 1970 (Clean Air Act, Section 112), at least…

Edward A. Sullivan, III
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From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angela R Cope
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2018 09:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Was asbestos used in production of raised relief maps

Is it shark week or raised relief map week? Both I guess.

I got a call from a patron wanting to know if asbestos was used in the production/creation of raised relief maps. Does anyone know what materials (plastics, etc.) were used to either confirm or deny that asbestos was used?

Do you know a source of information or an expert on this topic? I can put you in touch with the patron or I can pass the information along.

Thanks.

Angie Cope 

AGS Library, UW Milwaukee Libraries

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