Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral fiber that has been used for centuries, but it has been only during the 1900's that its terrible, toxic properties have been learned. It was widely used by industry because it was non-combustible and had great tensile strength and was used as an insulating material widely.  More than 90% of asbestos was “chrysotile”  form of asbestos. Asbestos has been used in cements, floor products, roofing products, construction insulation, shipbuilding, fire proofing, and in a wide variety of railroad applications and equipment for railroad products.

Asbestos is known to cause several diseases including lung cancers, mesothelioma, asbestosis, colon and rectal cancer, and possibly others. For information regarding medical aspects of the disease, attributes of asbestos disease process, cancers, and legal aspects and links, read further on this site.