What is Asbestos?
Asbestos, from the Greek word for 'unquenchable', is a collective term for a mixture of several naturally occurring fibrous materials. Chemically these are silicates of iron, magnesium, nickel, cadmium and aluminium. Asbestos occurs in metamorphic rocks, which are mined and processed to remove the asbestos fibres. The main producers of asbestos are Russia and China.
Asbestos is an excellent insulator of heat and electricity, does not burn and is resistant to chemical attack. Fibres can be separated and woven into cloths or felted into sheets. Thus asbestos found widespread usage in industrial, commercial and domestic situations.
 The properties of asbestos have been known since ancient times. Both the Ancient Egyptians and the Romans used asbestos cloth for burial or cremation purposes.
There are three main types of asbestos which have been commonly used -
- Crocidolite (Blue)
- Armosite (Brown)
- Chrysotile (White)
Asbestos use has declined since the 1970's as a result of increased knowledge of associated health problems and legislation. UK laws forbids the importation or use of all types of asbestos. White asbestos was banned from 31st December 1999.
 Why is asbestos so dangerous?
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