Foreword
Exposure to asbestos, a group of fibrous silicate minerals, is now known to be a serious health hazard. Because of its versatility — its fibers are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity — asbestos was once widely used for such purposes as insulation, heat-resistant clothing, roofing, and fireproofing. By the 1970s, however, scientists had linked inhaled asbestos fibers to cancer and certain respiratory diseases. The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned uses of asbestos that released asbestos fibers into the environment and, in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new asbestos uses. The EPA…
