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History 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. The ancient Greeks used asbestos in their cloth and the Romans used it in their building materials. Common modern uses are as thermal pipe and boiler insulation, spray-applied fire proofing and sound proofing, floor coverings, ceiling tiles, roofing materials and "transite" pipe and sheetin. In the United States, asbestos became popular in the early 1900s and its use peaked during WWII into the 1970s. Workers by the hundreds of thousands were exposed to Asbestos and many have developed asbestos related diseases and many have died from asbestos exposure. Over the last century it is estimated that over 30 million tons of asbestos was utilized in the construction of factories, office buildings, schools, shipyards, homes. It was used as fireproofing and insulation on industrial equipment such as boilers and turbines, and placed on millions of miles of piping. Even everyday items such as ironing boards, dryers, toasters, and low-density insulation products contained this wonder material. By 1940 scientific studies that suggested a link between asbestos exposure and cancer had been published in medical journals. Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word asbestos (ἄσβεστος) is a borrowed Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable. The Greeks termed asbestos the miracle mineral because of its soft and pliant properties, as well as its ability to withstand heat. Asbestos can be toxic. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis (a type of pneumoconiosis). Since the mid 1980s, the European Union and most developed countries have banned asbestos Asbestos became increasingly popular among manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century because of its resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage, sound absorption and tensile strength. When asbestos is used for its resistance to fire or heat, the fibers are often mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats. Asbestos was used in some products for its heat resistance, and in the past was used on electric oven and hotplate wiring for its electrical insulation at elevated temperature, and in buildings for its flame-retardant and insulating properties, tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals.   Source: http://en.wikipedia.org