History and Uses
Asbestos has been known to man for centuries and has been used in literally hundreds of
products. Asbestos was used because it is strong, insulates well, and resists fire and
corrosion. In the United States, asbestos became popular in the early 1900s and its use
peaked during WWII into the 1970s. While use of asbestos is not banned by legislation, it is
not commonly used by American manufacturers anymore due to health concerns and liability
issues. Various combinations of asbestos have also been used and these may often be
more hazardous to a person's health than a single type of asbestos.
Of the six forms of asbestos, chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos) and
crocidolite (blue asbestos) are the most commonly used:
Chrysotile is the most commonly used form of asbestos
and accounts for approximately 95% of the asbestos found
in buildings in the United States.
Amosite is found primarily as a fire retardant in thermal
insulation products and ceiling tiles.
Crocidolite was commonly used in high temperature applications.
