"Asbestos" is the name given to a naturally occurring group of minerals composed of tiny, easily inhaled fibers. Because of its many useful characteristics, including fire and heat resistance, asbestos has been used over the past hundred years in the manufacture of some 3,000 different building materials. These building materials include floor tile, linoleum or sheet vinyl, asbestos cement siding, roofing, pipe insulation, sprayed-on fireproofing, and decorative ceiling treatments.

In many products, such as vinyl floor tile and siding, asbestos is combined with a binding material so that it is not readily released into the air. However, if the materials are sanded or crushed, asbestos containing dust may become airborne and may be inhaled. The asbestos fibers may then enter the lungs where they tend to stay because of their shape. The asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer and other lung disease that may not appear until many years after exposure.

For information on asbestos related issues, contact Health Hazards Control at (919) 707-5950.

Information:

• Asbestos in Your Home/Do's and Don'ts for the Homeowner

• Asbesto o amianto en su hogar/Lo que debe y no debe hacer el propietario de vivienda con respecto al asbesto

Information from the State of NC:

• http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/asbestos.html