What is Asbestos?

  Asbestos is a type of mineral that has been commonly used for commercial purposes and has been categorized into two main types, serpentine and amphibole. Although six types of naturally-occurring minerals are officially recognized by the U.S Bureau of Mines as asbestos, more than 100 are listed as “asbestos-like.” The Environmental Protection Agency has identified amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite as the different classes of asbestos.

    Scientists and doctors have linked all forms of asbestos to the development of serious health conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, among others. Chrysotile, the most common form of asbestos, makes up approximately 95 percent of the asbestos present in buildings manufactured before the 1980s. Scientific data has shown that exposure to the long, wispy fibers of asbestos can be hazardous to human health.