Today, people and asbestos precariously coexist in old buildings. However, it is only when asbestos is disturbed that it becomes a health threat to human beings. Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that was used commonly in buildings for insulation. Asbestos fibers are exceptionally strong and are resistant to heat. Asbestos is commonly found in ceiling tiles, flooring and pipes.
Asbestos only becomes a danger when it is disturbed, causing the fibers to become airborne.
This is commonly referred to as friable asbestos, while intact asbestos is referred to as non-friable asbestos. Friable asbestos has become airborne and the human lungs are now susceptible to breathing in the airborne fibers. Doctors often compare the dangers associated with asbestos to those of smoking cigarettes. The more cigarettes one smokes, the greater the danger for developing lung cancer. Similarly, the more one is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance for developing an asbestos related disease.