Asbestos is the name applied to a family of strong, flexible fibrous minerals.
It does not easily burn or react with other chemicals. Asbestos has no odor or taste. Asbestos has been used in insulation wrapped around hot water pipes and boilers, fireproof materials, roof materials, car brakes, clutches and transmissions, paper products, textiles, cement pipes, and reinforced plastics. It has been against the law to use asbestos in new building construction in New York City since 1972 . Usually there is more asbestos in city air than in rural areas.