Asbestos is a generic term for six different fibrous minerals that exist as they are in nature. Asbestos is a friable material, which means that it can be fragmented, pulverized or powdered when dry. Small fibers and clumps of fiber can be released into the air as dust. Inhalation of asbestos fibres during manufacture or use is the main health risk.
The effects on human health of long-term exposure to asbestos are well documented and include asbestosis as well as changes in lung lining tissue. All forms of asbestos have been shown to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma.
This is one of the reasons why work involving asbestos-containing materials is highly regulated and workers working in these environments must follow established rules and be adequately trained.