Medical Symptoms and Facts

Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals found in the environment. It is generally an off-white color although less common types of asbestos are sometimes a blue or brown color depending on what materials the asbestos has been mixed with. Once asbestos has been mixed with other materials, its threads are invisible without the use of a microscope most of the time.

The most common places for asbestos to be found in homes are generally in heating ductwork and insulation. Due to its fire and heat resistant qualities, asbestos was commonly used to insulate homes as well as heating ductwork within many homes. These two sources of asbestos have become serious concerns because as asbestos used in insulation and ductwork deteriorate, asbestos particles are blown into the house. Inhalation of these particles has become the leading cause of malignant mesothelioma in recent years.

Asbestos was also frequently used for encasing electrical wiring, due to its non conductive properties. Most often, asbestos encased wiring is found in electrical stoves. Because asbestos is heat and fire resistant as well as non electrically conductive, it was an ideal wiring material until its use was medically linked to the disease mesothelioma along with other types of cancer and several other medical conditions usually involving the lungs.

Other serious sources of asbestos contamination include furnaces, plumbing, electrical wiring and fireplaces. Because of its insulation properties and its lack of electrical conductivity, asbestos has frequently been used in many areas of homes, businesses and even schools.