Asbestos has been used in a number of items we see every day. Car brakes, vinyl flooring, siding, roofing shingles, hot water blankets, and fire resistant clothing are just a few of those items.
Lightweight, resistant to corrosion and heat, asbestos fibers are highly versatile. The fibers are woven into cloth or mixed into compounds to be used in construction and manufacturing. The use of asbestos has been regulated but its use has not been eliminated.
Tiny asbestos fibers may be released into the air during the demolition, remodeling, or repairs to older buildings.