Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in huge amounts in Canada, Australia and Africa. Asbestos mineral breaks down into very tiny fibre, almost microscopic that can be 700 times smaller than human hair. Due to its small size, once released into the air, they may stay suspended in the air for hours or even days.

Asbestos fibres are resistant to chemicals, heat, do not evaporate or dissolve in water and they do not break down over time. This makes the fibre literally indestructible.

Because of its high durability and with tensile strength asbestos has been widely used in construction and insulation materials.

The word 'asbestos' in Greek means 'indestructible'. Greeks called asbestos the 'magic mineral'

The cancerous nature of this fibre makes it the 'Fibre of Death' and is as carcinogenic as radiation. In 1898 for the first time its dangers were recognised and legislations were passed as early as 1931 in England.

Asbestos is a generic term and refers to six kinds of naturally occuring mineral fibres. Of the six, three are used more commonly as follows:.

Chrysotile is the most common and accounts for almost 90 per cent of the asbestos used in the industry.

Amosite

Crocidolite

Crocidolite asbestos is banned in India. It however is still be found in old insulation material and old ships that come from other countries for wrecking in India.

Asbestos has wide used in as many as 3000 industrial products. The most common include :

Cement - most abundant use,

Brake linings,

Flooring products,

Heat resistant textiles,

insulation.

Gasket sheet material,

Special applications like in paints,

thermoplastics

In India it is used in -

Pressure and non pressure pipes used for water supply, sewage,irrigation and drainage system in urban and rural areas,laminated products, Tape, gland packing, packing ropes, brake lining and joints used in core sector industries such as automobile, heavy equipment, petro-chemicals, nuclear power plants, fertilizers, thermal power plants, transportation, defence industry.

During manufacturing the tiny particles maybe inhaled or swallowed and if this happens over a period of time it can cause serious health problems.