mesothelioma

What is Asbestos? 

Asbestos (Greek a-, "not"; sbestos, "extinguishable") is a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals which occur naturally in the environment. The name is derived for its historical use in lamp wicks. It was also used in fabrics such as Egyptian burial cloths and Charlemagne's tablecloth, which, according to legend, he threw in a fire to clean. The fibers are typically mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats. It is used in buildings for its flame-retardant and insulating properties, its tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals. Asbestos is now known to be carcinogenic and is banned in many countries.

These fibers are impervious to heat, fire, chemicals, and biological degradation; they do not dissolve in water or evaporate, and they have no detectable odor or taste. Because of these properties, asbestos has been widely used by industry in manufactured products such as building materials, friction products, and heat resistant fabrics. 

Most asbestos fibers are invisible to the unaided human eye because their size is about 3.0-20.0 µm.

types of asbestos