Sacramento Mesothelioma Causes

"Asbestos" is a generic name given to a fibrous variety of six naturally occurring rocks or minerals that have been used for many years in the development of thousands of commercial products in the United States and around the world.

The term "asbestos" is not really a mineralogical definition but a commercial name given to a group of minerals that possess high tensile strength, flexibility, resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, and electrical resistance. These minerals have been used in many products, including automotive brakes, insulation and fireproofing materials and textile products, along with cement and wallboard materials.

Asbestos minerals have a tendency to break into microscopic sized particles that can remain in the air and are easily inhaled as a dust. Many persons exposed to asbestos have developed several types of life threatening diseases, including lung cancer.

Although the use of asbestos products has dramatically decreased, they are still found in many commercial and residential locations and will continue to pose a health risk to workers and others.