Asbestos Awareness Information For University Employees What is
asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber widely
used in the construction and other industries. Most asbestos is
immobilized in binding materials which do not release asbestos
fibers into the air. Asbestos may be present in a building
without endangering the health of building occupants. Some
building materials contain asbestos which will release fibers if
disturbed. This is known as friable asbestos, which is estimated
to be present in about 700,000 commercial and public buildings
in the U.S. A number of building materials within University
buildings contain asbestos. Most of these materials will not
release asbestos fibers unless they are damaged. Exposure to
asbestos fibers released into the air increases a person's risk
of contracting an asbestos-related disease, such as a chronic
lung ailment or cancer. The risk is related to such factors as
the length of time a person is exposed, the amount of asbestos
fiber in the air, and