Asbestos is the generic name for a group of natural fibrous minerals. Asbestos is distinguished by its fibrous structure. It is a silicate-based mineral containing varying proportions of magnesium, iron, calcium, aluminium and sodium, and sometimes various trace elements. Asbestos is classified into two main groups depending on its structure: serpentines and amphiboles. Serpentines are curly, flexible and have a tendency to form clumps. The other mentioned fibrous silicates (amphiboles) have smooth fibres with sharp ends, and easily enter the lungs. Asbestos fibres form when minerals containing asbestos are mined, ground and weathered and when products and materials containing asbestos are manufactured, used or disposed of. Asbestos fibres are widespread in the environment due to their extremely broad range of use. In our conditions this material was most often used to make asbestos-cement products. Asbestos mining, production and consumption volumes, and asbestos content in materials and products, is being reduced in the interests of protecting health, and products and materials containing asbestos are no longer produced in our country.

Asbestos had a very broad range of use in the past and about 70% of the produced volume was used in construction. Most of this volume was used in roof tiles, sanitary pipes, built-in or exterior and under-roof boards and apartment sanitary units. Asbestos was also used in a number of fire-prevention sprays, which were also applied in rail vehicles.

Asbestos is very dangerous to the human body due to its microscopic size and its fibrous structure. These fibres can become airborne and can subsequently be inhaled, which exposes the human body to the risk of pulmonary cancer, fibrosis or mesothelioma. These fibres also cause a disease called asbestosis (asbestos particles in the lungs), during which the lungs are scarred by the inhaled asbestos fibres. This is why the use of asbestos is forbidden in many countries and asbestos is currently being removed from around human settlements.

There is no risk to human health if asbestos and materials containing asbestos are not handled and asbestos fibres are not released into the atmosphere. You should certainly not handle any materials containing asbestos, do not try to remove them, cut them, drill into them, or break them up or otherwise handle them. Contact a specialised company engaged in the removal and disposal of asbestos and materials containing asbestos for the purpose of removing and disposing of asbestos and materials containing asbestos.

Never remove asbestos or materials containing asbestos yourself! According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), all types of asbestos are classified as proven carcinogens. According to its effects, asbestos is a proven human carcinogen on the basis of which it is classified in category 1.