ABA Family Legal Guide

Home Ownership

Property Insurance and Other Protections

Environmental Issues

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a fibrous material found in rocks and soil worldwide. Until the early 1970s, it was widely used in flooring, walls, shingles, ceiling tiles, and as insulation or fire retardant for furnaces and wiring. When the material crumbles or flakes, tiny asbestos flakes escape into the air. You breathe the fibers, they persist in your lungs, and with repeated long-term exposure you're likely to develop lung or stomach cancer.