Asbestos Information Overview

In this section of the website, you will learn what asbestos is, including:

• The types of asbestos
• How to identify asbestos
• Where asbestos is used
• How people are exposed to asbestos
• The dangers of asbestos
• How to protect yourself from asbestos
• The history of asbestos
• Asbestos laws

Asbestos refers to naturally occurring fiber-like minerals that can be separated into thin threads and woven. It has been used for many years in products like cement, brake linings, roof shingles, and insulation. Asbestos is not considered dangerous unless it is broken up and the fibers become airborne where they can be inhaled or swallowed.

The use of asbestos increased during World War II, and since then, many companies have knowingly exposed their employees to this dangerous material. Asbestos is known to cause cancer-it leads to the development of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Even though the danger of asbestos has been known since the early 20th Century, a number of companies continued using asbestos and exposing employees to it without providing protection. Starting in the 1970s, the United States government has passed increasingly strict asbestos legislation to help protect workers and their families from asbestos exposure.