Once upon a time, asbestos was considered a wonder material. Chemically inert and an impressive insulator, it was put to use in a variety of industrial and structural settings. Epidemiologists ...

Scientists have plenty of data on these severe cases but much less information about what happens when you inhale small amounts of asbestos—e.g., at rates of less than one fiber per cc of air.

The conclusion: long, spiky fibers of asbestos were in the vermiculite at levels much higher than expected. “Libby was the worst environmental public health disaster in EPA history,” Miller said.

Over time, however, scientists pinned the cause of lung cancers such as mesothelioma on asbestos fiber inhalation. Asbestos was banned in the many industrialized countries in the 1980s, ...

Asbestos is not dangerous unless it is friable - that is, large amounts of asbestos fibers become airborne. We are all exposed to small amounts of asbestos as we go about our daily lives.

“Asbestos Project” includes the construction, demolition, repair, remodeling, maintenance, or renovation of any public or private building or structure, mechanical piping equipment or system involving ...

But fibers didn’t. Wool or cotton threads would decay, but asbestos never would. Fabergé Jewelers, of the Romanov eggs, created a dandelion in a cut-crystal vase with a puff made of asbestos ...

Asbestos has been discovered for the second time at two city-owned structures in downtown Hillsboro, and crews will be on site through the weekend to perform remediation. The city acquired five ...

Because asbestos’ fibers are toxic once airborne, its use in construction was limited in the late 20th century and demolition of buildings with asbestos requires special care.