Asbestos is the name given to a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that have been widely used in commercial products. Asbestos is composed of silicate chains bonded with magnesium, iron, calcium, aluminum, and sodium or trace elements to form long, thin, separable fibers. These fibers are often arranged in parallel or matted masses.
Asbestos occurs naturally, but much of its presence in the environment stems from mining and commercial uses.
Asbestos was widely used commercially because of its
high tensile strength
resistance to acids and alkalis
resistance to heat and flame
flexibility.
These properties make asbestos commercially useful but also stable in the environment. Asbestos is nonbiodegradable. Once released to the environment, asbestos tends to persist.