ASBESTOS

Asbestos is an excellent electrical insulator and is highly resistant to heat, so for many years it was used as a building material. However, it is a well known health hazard, and today the use of asbestos as a building material is now illegal in many countries. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to various serious lung conditions, including asbestosis and cancer.

Despite the severity of asbestos-related diseases, the material has been used widely all around the world, and most pre-1980s buildings are thought to contain asbestos.