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Asbestos Frequently Asked Questions

Summary: This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions about asbestos.

Frequently Asked Health Questions About Asbestos
	This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions about asbestos. This information is important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of six different fibrous minerals (amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and the fibrous varieties of tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite) that occur naturally in the environment.
Asbestos minerals have separable long fibers that are strong and flexible enough to be spun and woven and are heat resistant.
Because of these characteristics, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. Some vermiculite or talc products may contain asbestos.