What is Asbestos and How Does It Cause?
                     What Is Asbestos and 
How Does It Cause 
Cancer?
 Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals made up 
of heat-resistant fibers. It was used in thousands of U.S. 
consumer products before the dangers of asbestos were known. 
Introduction
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 Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of flexible 
fibers that are resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These 
qualities make the mineral useful. However, asbestos exposure 
is highly toxic.
What Is 
Asbestos?
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 Asbestos was widely used in construction as an effective 
insulator, and it can be added to cloth, paper, cement, plastic 
and other materials to make them stronger. But when asbestos 
dust is inhaled or ingested, the fibers can become permanently 
trapped in the body. 
Where it is 
used?
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 Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other health 
conditions. A rare and aggressive cancer called mesothelioma is 
almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos also 
causes a progressive lung disease called asbestosis. 
Exposure to 
asbestos can 
cause cancer
Source: www.asbestos.com
 The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 legally 
recognizes six types of asbestos that fall into two categories: 
Amphibole and serpentine.
Types of 
Asbestos
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 Amphibole asbestos fibers have a straight, jagged shape. There are 
five recognized types:
 Crocidolite
 Amosite
 Anthophyllite
 Tremolite
 Actinolite
Amphibole 
Asbestos
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 Serpentine asbestos fibers are curly. There is only one kind: 
Chrysotile, which is also known as "white asbestos."
 Chrysotile
Serpentine 
Asbestos
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 Although asbestos comes from all over the world, the main 
exporters are Russia, Kazakhstan and China. The toxic mineral 
was once mined throughout North America.
Where Does 
Asbestos 
Come From?
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 Mesothelioma is a type of cancer almost exclusively caused by 
asbestos exposure. The mineral also causes asbestos-related 
lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer.
Asbestos-
Related 
Diseases
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 No amount of asbestos exposure is safe, but asbestos generally 
has the worst effects when a person is exposed to an intense 
concentration of it, or they are exposed on a regular basis over a 
long period of time.
Asbestos 
Exposure 
Risks
Source: www.asbestos.com